Climate, health equity, and the built environment: A video on tackling energy poverty in Bulgaria
Poor-quality buildings put an undeniable strain on our climate and health. Besides relying on fossil fuels and adding to pollution, they pose a myriad of health threats, including poor indoor air quality, dampness and mould, as well as mental health problems.
In Bulgaria, many families live in poorly insulated housing. For vulnerable households, such as those living on low incomes, the cost of heating their homes in winter and cooling them in summer can push them into energy poverty. This means they might be forced to choose between keeping their house at a comfortable temperature and other necessities, such as food and medicine.
"Summer energy poverty will become an increasingly significant issue with global warming and more frequent heatwaves. The current rate of renovation will take us 60 years to cover the entire housing stock. Political will is necessary, of course, as well as resources."
Zornitsa Spasova
Chief Assistant Professor, National Center of Public Health and Analyses, Bulgaria
In this video, we look at the links between poor-quality buildings, energy poverty, and health. We also explore ongoing initiatives in Bulgaria to insulate homes most cost-effectively, and help households - especially women, who are most vulnerable to energy poverty - improve their homes and build skills to use energy as efficiently as possible.
This video is part of a series on 'Climate, health equity, and the built environment', with support from the European Climate Foundation. Check out our other videos on sustainable healthcare facilities in Austria, managing heatwaves in schools in Spain and a ban on solid fuel use in Ireland to improve air quality.
The video series is part of EuroHealthNet's call for an EU Strategy on Climate and Health.
