ENERGY POVERTY Supporting People With Disabilities

People with disabilities often have significantly greater electricity needs than other citizens across the European Union

Listen to the article

Energy poverty is affecting a growing number of households across the European Union, and recent research shows that it has a disproportionate impact on people with disabilities. The reasons for this disparity are numerous and extend well beyond financial hardship alone.

People with disabilities generally have higher electricity needs because many rely on medical equipment and assistive devices. They also tend to consume more energy for heating and cooling their homes, particularly people with physical disabilities whose health and well-being often depend on maintaining stable indoor temperatures.

To help address the growing problem of energy poverty, the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), together with partners in the ASSERT project, has launched an online learning platform for professionals working with households affected by energy poverty.

The ASSERT platform has been developed primarily for organisations representing people with disabilities, social workers, energy advisers, healthcare professionals and other specialists who need additional knowledge and practical skills to tackle energy poverty more effectively.

In addition to professional training, the platform provides people with disabilities with practical advice and guidance on avoiding energy poverty, managing household energy costs and making more efficient use of energy systems.

More information is available on the ASSERT website at assert.aisforacademy.eu. Registration is free and open to organisations and professionals interested in strengthening the capacity of people with disabilities to respond more effectively to energy poverty.

ASSERT is a relatively new European project funded through the LIFE Programme. Over the past year and a half, it has been working to ensure that people with disabilities are not left behind in Europe’s transition to clean energy. The project currently operates in five European Union member states—Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy and Spain—and brings together experts from a wide range of fields, including disability rights and energy efficiency.