Energy poverty: an overlooked determinant of health and climate resilience in Canada.

OBJECTIVE: Despite Canada being an important energy producer, not all Canadians can access or afford adequate levels of energy services at home to meet their needs, maintain healthy indoor temperatures, and live a decent life-a situation known as energy poverty. Depending on the measure, 6-19% of Canadian households face energy poverty. Health risks associated with energy poverty are documented in countries with milder climates. This study explores, for the first time in the Canadian context, the association between energy poverty and health. METHODS: Cross-sectional data are from the 2018 Canadian Housing Survey. Analyses are conducted on a sample weighted to represent 14 million Canadian households. The associations between expenditure-based and self-reported measures of energy poverty and self-rated general and mental health were assessed using logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounding variables. RESULTS: The odds of rating one's general (OR: 1.48; 95%CI: 1.29, 1.70) and mental (OR: 1.21; 1.04, 1.41) health as poor are significantly higher for Canadian adults in households with a high share of energy expenditure to income. The likelihood of poor general and mental health was significantly higher for those dissatisfied with the energy efficiency of their dwelling, and with their ability to maintain a comfortable temperature both in the winter and in the summer. CONCLUSION: Exposure to energy poverty is associated with significantly increased likelihood of poor general and mental health. Given the high proportion of Canadian households facing energy poverty, with demonstrated implications for population health, tackling energy poverty is essential for an equitable energy transition and for climate resilience.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Bien que le Canada soit un important producteur d'énergie, entre 6 % et 19 % des ménages canadiens, selon la mesure retenue, sont en précarité énergétique, une situation qui survient lorsqu'un ménage n'a pas les moyens ou l'accès à des services énergétiques résidentiels adéquats pour maintenir une température ambiante confortable, répondre à ses besoins et vivre dans la dignité. Les risques socio-sanitaires associés à la précarité énergétique sont documentés dans des pays au climat tempéré. Cette étude explore, pour la première fois dans le contexte canadien, l'association entre la précarité énergétique et la santé. MéTHODES: Les données transversales proviennent de l'Enquête canadienne sur le logement de 2018. Les associations entre différentes mesures de précarité énergétique (mesures basées sur les dépenses des ménages et auto-rapportées) et la santé générale et mentale perçue sont estimées à l'aide de modèles de régression logistique ajustés pour des variables de confusion potentielles. Les analyses sont réalisées sur un échantillon pondéré pour représenter 14 millions de ménages. RéSULTATS: Les probabilités de déclarer une mauvaise santé générale (OR : 1,48; IC95% : 1,29-1,70) et mentale (OR : 1,21; 1,04-1,41) sont significativement plus élevées pour les adultes canadiens dont le ménage consacre une part importante de son revenu aux coûts énergétiques. Elles sont aussi significativement plus élevées pour ceux qui déclarent être insatisfaits avec l'efficacité énergétique de leur logement et de leur capacité à maintenir une température confortable en hiver et en été. CONCLUSION: Vivre en situation de précarité énergétique est associée à des probabilités accrues de déclarer une mauvaise santé générale et mentale chez les adultes canadiens. En raison de la proportion élevée de ménages canadiens confrontés à la précarité énergétique et des effets socio-sanitaires que cette situation engendre, lutter contre la précarité énergétique est essentiel pour une transition énergétique équitable et pour la résilience climatique.

Cool? Young people investigate living in cold housing and fuel poverty. A mixed methods action research study.

BACKGROUND: Living in cold housing conditions and risk of fuel poverty presents a range of physiological and psychosocial health risks. Limited research has specifically investigated the effects of fuel poverty on children and young people, and even less has been conducted with youth input into the research process. METHODS: The Cool? Study used mixed methods, participatory action research carried out with youth researchers involved at all stages through questionnaire design, analysis, qualitative design, e-interviewing and dissemination of results. This article reports on results of an online survey of 656 adolescents aged 14-16 years completed at 17 schools in New Zealand. Sampling was based on selecting schools for invitation, with the probability of selection weighted proportional to school size, within strata defined by climate zone. Results from a small e-mail interview study of survey respondents who consented to follow-up are also reported. RESULTS: The study found that almost half of the survey respondents (47%) felt their home was sometimes cold during the winter; a further 40% felt their home was often or always cold. More than two thirds of respondents (70%) had shivered inside at least once during winter. Respondents were more likely to report key indicators of fuel poverty depending on their self-reported ethnicity, with Maori at increased risk. Living in private rental housing or state-owned housing also increased risk of fuel poverty compared to those in owner-occupied dwellings. Participants of email interviews expressed concern about the widespread problem of cold housing for youth and a desire for Government intervention. CONCLUSION: The integrated results confirm that cold housing and risk of fuel poverty are important problems for young people in New Zealand. Results contribute to the evidence-base for policy targeting of schemes such as the Government-sponsored retrofitting of insulation to households with dependent children.

Kids in the cold: outcomes for New Zealand households with children using prepayment metering for electricity.

AIMS: Although fuel poverty is becoming increasingly researched, there is very limited information currently available on the experiences of and effects on children living in fuel poverty. This paper examines the consequences of using prepayment metering, a payment method typically used by low-income households, on households with children. METHODS: We present new results from two postal survey datasets, the Electricity Prepayment Meter Users' Survey undertaken in late 2010 and the follow-up survey undertaken in 2011, which explore the outcomes of prepayment metering and living on low-incomes for households with children. RESULTS: Among prepayment consumers, households with children experience greater levels of hardship. Households with children were statistically significantly more likely to cut back on grocery spending, and indicated greater levels of financial difficulty than childless households. Although there were no differences between the groups for most indicators of poor thermal comfort levels, households with children were statistically significantly more likely to report seeing their breath condensing indoors on at least one occasion during the winter. CONCLUSIONS: Policies to address fuel poverty should include protections for prepayment meter consumers, and households with children using this payment method who are especially vulnerable.