Project description
Say no to energy poverty
To guarantee a decent standard of living and people’s health, adequate warmth, cooling, lighting and energy to power appliances are essential. Energy poverty occurs when a household suffers from inadequate energy services in their home. Awareness of energy poverty is growing rapidly across Europe, and the issue is being increasingly integrated within the activities of the European Union. The EU-funded STEP project is working on an ambitious, innovative and replicable model. It will use existing channels to reach energy-poor consumers in countries with the highest incidences of energy poverty. It will create national networks of advisors and implement schemes to provide relief to energy-poor households.
Objective
Solutions to Tackle Energy Poverty (S.T.E.P) is an ambitious, innovative and replicable model based on proven approaches to addressing energy poverty. STEP, by focussing on countries with the highest incidences of energy poverty, will use existing channels to reach energy poor consumers. Synthesising experience and knowledge of consumer organisations on energy and consumer issues, strengthening partnerships with frontline organisations in daily contact with energy poor consumers, and consolidating best practices from past projects on energy poverty, the project will implement appropriate schemes to alleviate energy poverty in the 9 target countries (Lithuania, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Cyprus and the UK).
The general objective of STEP is to alleviate energy poverty by facilitating behavioural change through trusted, tailored advice provided directly to consumers in or at risk of energy poverty and by implementing low-cost energy efficiency solutions in energy poor households. The specific objectives are:
- to develop well-functioning and well-trained national networks of advisors from consumer and frontline organisations who are in direct contact with consumers in or at risk of energy poverty
- to improve living conditions of consumers in or at risk of energy poverty through behaviour change and implementation of no- or low-cost energy efficiency measures
- to create schemes contributing to the alleviation of energy poverty, promote their replication and draw policy recommendations
Through low cost energy efficiency measures - such as information campaigns and tips, demonstrations of cost savings, installation of no- and low-cost energy efficiency measures – STEP has the potential to reduce consumer energy bills and provide relief to energy poor households. Furthermore, through the institutionalisation of energy efficiency advice in sustainable consumer networks, we anticipate long term impacts and sustainability of STEP.
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Funding Scheme
CSA - Coordination and support actionCoordinator
1040 Bruxelles / Brussel
Belgium