"A
lack of an adequate source of energy can cause serious problems and
even lead to death. This is the finding of a study carried out by
Barcelona's public health agency as part of a programme overseen by
the EU's Project Sophie.
Those
at greatest risk are women aged between 70 and 79 with no formal
studies. There are three main causes for what is commonly known now
as “energy poverty”: low income, poor quality hosing, and the
price of energy, especially electricity.
The
study investigated the mortality rates of people living in social
housing between the years 1986 and 2012 and clearly demonstrated that
mortality rates were lower in buildings which had been renovated and
had thermal insulation installed.
In [this
accomodation] there was a clear difference in mortality,
especially among women, a fact that is explained by the time women in
those dwellings spent at home, according to researcher Andrés
Peralta, as well as the lower income of women, especially those
living alone. Figures showed that between 10% and 40% of above
average mortality can be attributed to energy poverty."
Sònia
Pau - Catalonia
Today magazine.
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