The HH-EPRI is a composite indicator which can produce a spatially refined analysis of home-heating energy poverty risk. It allows for an informed choice by decision-makers regarding the success or possible need for adaption of a specific policy instrument. As applied to the Irish case, it is based on both relevant literature and publicly available Irish datasets that are routinely updated in the system.
Analysis with the HH-EPRI is undertaken using GIS software at Small Area (SA) level. In total, there are 18,641 SAs in Ireland, each containing, on average, 80 to 120 households. The composite approach allows for a multidimensional analysis of energy poverty by combining ten indicators which inform three weighted categories which relate to: 1) Heating Requirements (HR) of the building; 2) Building Characteristics (BC) and 3) Householder Characteristics (HC). The application of the HH-EPRI is not limited to understanding how changes in certain parameters will influence energy poverty; it can also demonstrate how policy may design or modify interventions to manage changes. For example, if the energy efficiency of homes in a small town is improved a number of grades on the building energy rating scale, how does this intervention affect energy demand and associated energy poverty risk?
The full internationally peer reviewed methodology is available here.
