Arquitectura, Sostenibilidad, Resiliencia y Salud. Hacia una Sociedad en Armonía con el Medio Ambiente [2024]


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The book on "Arquitectura, Sostenibilidad, Resiliencia y Salud. Hacia una Sociedad en Armonía con el Medio Ambiente / Architecture, Sustainability, Resilience and Health. Towards a Society in Harmony with the Environment" is out and was edited by José Roberto García Chávez of Universidade Autónoma Metropolitana with multiple contributions from colleagues all around central and South America and Spain.


We have a chapter on "Addressing Energy Poverty in the European Union: Analysing Policies, identifying challenges, and mobilizing local solutions in Portugal"


Energy poverty (EP) in Europe extends beyond accessibility challenges and profoundly impacts society. It is marked by housing inefficiencies, economic constraints, and rising energy prices, which affect health, social structures, and education, exacerbating thermal discomfort and various health issues. Recognizing the urgency, the European Commission has recommended policies, legal frameworks, engagement governance, and indicators for effective diagnosis. At the same time, the Energy Poverty Advisory Hub (EPAH) plays a central role, offering expertise and a user-friendly data dashboard.


This chapter investigates the interplay between climate change, the energy transition, and energy poverty in Southern Europe, focusing on Portugal as a potential pioneer.


It provides an overview of the region’s susceptibility to energy poverty and evaluates current Portuguese policies, highlighting their efficacy and identifying synergies and trade-offs. Delving into EP mitigation, the chapter examines the cost-effectiveness of renovation measures to enhance building thermal performance and explores energy efficiency scenarios for reducing regional energy poverty. Additionally, it estimates the costs of decarbonizing and electrifying domestic energy consumption, providing insights for policymakers.


Emphasizing the critical role of local action, the chapter addresses the limitations of digital approaches and advocates for community-centric strategies. It presents methods for bringing energy support to local communities, encourages collaborative renewable energy sharing, and underscores meaningful engagement with local stakeholders, fostering a bottom-up approach for sustainable, resilient communities.


This work contributes to understanding EP challenges and opportunities in the European Union, utilizing Portugal as a case study. By evaluating policies, proposing cost-effective solutions, and advocating for localized strategies, the research aims to inform academic discourse and policy implementation, fostering a more inclusive and sustainable energy future for Southern Europe.


Citation : Gouveia, J.P., Bessa, S., Mahoney, K. Palma, P., Sequeira, M. (2024). Addressing Energy Poverty in the European Union: Analysing policies, identifying challenges, and mobilizing local solutions in Portugal. In Arquitectura, Sostenibilidad, Resiliencia y Salud. Hacia una Sociedad en Armonía con el Medio Ambiente. Ed. Garcia Chávez, J.R. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana. México. ISBN versión digital: 978-607-28-3162-9

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