Energy efficiency and energy saving in low income households

In recent years, private households were facing a sharp rise of electricity and heating prices. In particular, households with low income are suffering from rising energy costs. Until recently, only few approaches exist to disburden these housholds. Existing energy advisory services often fail to reach low income households, because they do not meet the needs of this target group properly.

To help low income households to reduce their energy costs the “Cariteam Energy Saving Service” was established in Frankfurt am Main as an innovative approach. Based on a comprehensive check of appliances and use patterns, recommendations to reduce electricity and water consumption are made. In addition, small energy saving appliances, e.g. energy saving bulbs or interruptible frame connectors, are disposed for free.

The energy advice service is based on a job qualification program, designed to train permanently unemployed persons in the field of energy and water saving advice. The program is run by the Caritas Frankfurt in cooperation with the Social Welfare Office and the Energy Department of the city of Frankfurt, the Rhein Main Job Centre and the local energy supplier Mainova.

The concept of the Cariteam energy saving service was successfully established in Frankfurt/Main and will be transferred to other German cities. In order to support this transfer, the research project analysis and assesses strategies to assist low income household to reduce their energy costs.

A main objective is to evaluate the acceptance and the impacts of the Cariteam approach in order to analyse social and environmental impacts and to identify success factors and obstacles for implementation. In order to explore user acceptance and satisfaction the ISOE will carry out an empirical survey among households who made use of the Cariteam energy saving service. Based on these findings the energy savings and financial gains of the households will be assessed by ifeu.

In a second step, preconditions for the transfer of the Cariteam concept to other municipalities will be analysed and recommendations for the ongoing transfer process will be made and communicated.

Finally, further strategies to reduce electricity costs for low income households will be analysed. On the one hand, an overview over the various models of reduced electricity rates for low income households will be compiled and assessed as to their social and environmental impacts. On the other hand, innovative schemes to grant subsidies to the purchase of energy efficiency appliances will be analysed and discussed.

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