Energy poverty affects housing comfort for low-income renters, highlighting need for regulation and better standards.
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Differences in summer thermal comfort between the poor and the rich are most evident in hot Southern Europe, where energy poverty affects residents’ access to tolerable temperatures not only in winter but also in summer. In Czechia, about twenty percent of citizens live in uncomfortably overheated housing during the summer, though the country is slightly better off than the EU average geographically. Climate change will worsen this issue, as adapting homes to heat is harder than to cold. Heatwaves cause significant health risks across Europe. Data shows that access to cool environments and thus health is a class issue, with the greatest disparities seen in Southern Europe due to energy poverty. While some solutions like solar power can help, low-income residents often face choices between cooling their homes and meeting other basic needs. In Czechia, less affluent residents are more likely to live in overheated apartments than wealthier ones, and many lack air conditioning or have inefficient units. Long-term solutions like insulation and green roofs are preferable to energy-intensive air conditioning. The ownership structure significantly impacts comfort; tenants in rented properties have little control over cooling measures. While some European countries have established mandatory temperature standards for rentals (e.g., Sweden, France), Czech law is vague regarding housing condition. Energy poverty is rising due to increased costs, and renters constitute a large portion of those experiencing it, often living in poorly insulated homes. Experts advocate for regulatory changes such as subsidies for tenants facing high energy bills, establishing mandatory energy standards for rentals, and regulating short-term rental contracts, which allow landlords to bypass rent increases and implement cost-saving measures that benefit them financially.
