Press Release: ENPOR successfully concludes, leaving a lasting impact on tackling energy poverty in the private rented sector
The ENPOR Horizon 2020 project has reached its successful conclusion after three years of dedicated efforts to address energy poverty in the private rented sector. The project, funded by the European Union, focused on collecting expertise, analysing national policies, and formulating key recommendations to alleviate energy poverty challenges faced by tenants and landlords.
Over the course of the project, significant steps were made in understanding and combatting energy poverty in the private rented sector. The impactful work at the national level resulted in tangible changes to policies and concrete actions, such as the introduction of energy boxes in The Netherlands and the creation of simple infographics to empower energy-poor tenants from diverse backgrounds to take actions to improve energy efficiency in their homes.
A comprehensive dashboard was developed to analyse national policies and programmes and assess if national measures are sufficiently tailored to address energy poverty, in particular energy poverty for tenants in the private rented sector. A split incentive tool contributes to a deeper understanding about how to tackle energy efficiency in the private rented sector. A tool that mainly aims to identify the share of the triggered benefits from the implementation of energy efficiency interventions between landlords and tenants in order to quantify the appropriate allocation of costs or subsidy rates for both sides, towards specific energy efficiency scenarios in several geographical/national contexts.
The ENPOR project gathered substantial expertise from various stakeholders, including government and local bodies, energy suppliers, researchers, social workers and advocacy groups – among which where representatives from landlords and tenants side, contributing to a robust understanding of the complex issues surrounding energy poverty. Through extensive research and collaboration, the project has produced a set of policy recommendations aimed at fostering sustainable energy investments and addressing the specific needs of both landlords and tenants.
Key Recommendations from the ENPOR Project:
- Implement the Green Deal: With the final adoption of remaining Green Deal files in sight, focus on timely transposition and meaningful implementation of those relevant EU laws, including measures to mandate building renovation, the deployment of specific actions to tackle energy poverty, and public intervention in energy supply to provide information on alternative measures to disconnection.
- Energy Poverty Definition: Advocate for a standardized definition of energy poverty in national legislation.
- Link Building Energy Efficiency to the Private Rented Sector (PRS): Encourage strategies that boost building energy efficiency improvements into the private rented sector, ensuring a balance between landlord incentives and tenant protection.
- Support for Renewable Energy Access: Promote support measures and information campaigns on access to renewable energy, targeting energy-poor households.
- Technical Support and Training: Provide technical support, one-stop-shops, and training for social and health workers to identify and support vulnerable individuals at risk of fuel poverty.
- Tenant Empowerment: Enhance transparency in energy bills, empower tenants in energy efficiency upgrades, and establish frameworks for cost sharing between landlords and tenants.
- Enhance Access to Financial Assistance: Create targeted financial support programs for vulnerable tenants and develop win-win scenarios to overcome the split incentive.
- Promote Education and Awareness: Establish a support framework for communication and training, targeting energy-poor households with tailored information and communication campaigns.
- Strengthen Monitoring and Enforcement: Increase capacity and resources for regulatory bodies, implement periodic inspections, and offer financial incentives for landlords investing in energy-efficient upgrades.
As the ENPOR project concludes, the valuable insights and recommendations generated will serve as a foundation for future policy development and implementation, aiming to create a more sustainable and equitable future for all actors in the private rented sector. The project’s success lies not only in its findings but in its commitment to collaboration, innovation, and a collective effort to address the pressing issue of energy poverty.