| Ref.No: | 63262500 |
| Start date: | 01.10.2024 |
| End date: | 30.09.2027 |
| Approval date: | 03.07.2024 |
| Department: | ELECTRICAL & COMPUTER ENGINEERING |
| Sector: | INDUSTRIAL ELECTRIC DEVICES AND DECISION SYSTEMS |
| Financier: | LIFE, E.C. |
| Budget: | 120.455,25 € |
| Public key: | ΨΕ1Ξ46ΨΖΣ4-ΧΓΡ |
| Scientific Responsible: | Prof. PSARRAS |
| Email: | john@epu.ntua.gr |
| Description: | ENERGY POVERTY, A PRESSING SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGE, DISRUPTS ACCESS TO ESSENTIAL ENERGY SERVICES AND ADVERSELY AFFECTS THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY EUROPEANS. AS OF 2022, NEARLY 9.3% OF EUROPEANS STRUGGLED TO ADEQUATELY HEAT THEIR HOMES (EUROSTAT, 2023). VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, PARTICULARLY INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES, ARE AT GREATER RISK, WITH APPROXIMATELY 24% OF EU CITIZENS WITH DISABILITIES FACING ENERGY POVERTY (EUROPEAN DISABILITY FORUM). ASSERT INTENDS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF ENERGY POVERTY IN MEDITERRANEAN COUNTRIES, WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON PEOPLE WITH PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENTS. BY BUILDING THE SOCIO-POLITICAL FRAME OF ENERGY POVERTY, TRAINING AND EMPOWERING POLICY ACTORS AND SOCIAL-HEALTH INTERMEDIARIES IT AIMS TO FILL IN THE KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY GAPS OF ALL ACTORS DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO PEOPLE. ASSERT WILL ADDRESS: 1) PEOPLE IN ENERGY POVERTY WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: HOUSEHOLDS WITH DISABLED MEMBERS FACE UNIQUE CHALLENGES, INCLUDING INCREASED ENERGY REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL DEVICES AND MAINTAINING SPECIFIC TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS. THESE ADDITIONAL DEMANDS EXACERBATE FINANCIAL BURDENS, MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO MOVE OUT OF ENERGY POVERTY. 2) ON THE GROUND INTERMEDIARIES, WITH SPECIAL FOCUS ON SOCIO-HEALTH OPERATORS: THEY PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN SUPPORTING PEOPLE LIVING IN ENERGY POVERTY HOWEVER THEY LACK SPECIFIC KNOWLEDGE AND WORKING RESOURCES TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO DISABLED PEOPLE. 3) POLICY ACTORS: AT LOCAL LEVEL, POLICYMAKERS FACE THE CHALLENGES OF DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE ENERGY POVERTY POLICIES, PARTICULARLY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES. THEY OFTEN LACK BASIC KNOWLEDGE, EVIDENCE-BASED INSIGHTS, AND COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS ENERGY POVERTY, INCLUDING HEALTH ASPECTS. ASSERT ENVISIONS A SET OF SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES TO BE PURSUED OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS. FIRSTLY, IT WILL SUPPORT ENERGY POOR PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY THOSE WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES TO SATISFY THEIR ENERGY NEEDS WHILE PROMOTING THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTIONS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH BUILDING INFORMAL TRAINING / INFORMATIVE RESOURCES WITHIN A HOLISTIC MENTORING PROGRAM FOR INTERMEDIARIES TO SUPPORT THEM IN PROVIDING ADVICE DIRECTLY TO PEOPLE IN ENERGY POVERTY. SECONDLY, ASSERT WILL ENHANCE THE KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCIES OF SOCIAL-HEALTH INTERMEDIARIES IN EFFECTIVELY ADDRESSING ENERGY POVERTY THROUGH A FORMAL TRAINING COURSE AND A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE INTERMEDIARIES (AND WITH THEM THROUGH A CO-CREATION ACTIVITY). THIRDLY, IT SEEKS TO INCREASE THE KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY OF POLICY ACTORS IN ADDRESSING ENERGY POVERTY THROUGH FORMAL AND INFORMAL TRAINING RESOURCES AND EMPOWER TO DESIGN A MORE EFFECTIVE SOCIO-POLITICAL FRAMEWORK FOR ADDRESSING ENERGY POVERTY. |
