Across EU countries, estimates suggest 8-10% of the population faces situations of energy poverty. When data are disaggregated by gender, a shocking reality emerges: the rate skyrockets to 31% of single women broadly — and 44% of single mothers. (EuroFund, 2022)
WOMEN IN SOLIDARITY FOR ENERGY (WISE) is a new project launched with four overarching aims:
To raise awareness of why single women are more at risk of energy poverty and suffer greater impacts.
To boost energy knowledge and know-how among this group.
To provide practical help by demonstrating energy solidarity.
To build social cohesion among single women and with others in their communities.
WISE recognises the the need to consider the distinction situations and needs of single women at different stages of life and in diverse geographical, social and economic contexts.
Multiple factors contribute to single women being more at risk. Often, they have cumulative or amplifying effects.
Young, unmarried women may be in their first situations of living away from parental homes and managing energy systems and energy bills. They may also be in low-quality dwellings, have old, inefficient appliance and be facing the reality of absentee landlords or careless roommates.
For single mothers, the need to care for young children may force them to reduce their work hours or to take on poorly paid, unstable work. At the same time, being home during daytime hours and keeping infants and toddlers warm, clean and well fed drives up energy use and costs.
Many elderly women, when their spouses have passed, find themselves in a family home that is difficult and expense to heat or keep cool. They may also have little experience running the relevant equipment and controls, or managing energy bills.
Immigrant women may be arriving from countries with completely different climates and may have little experience with the appliances and equipment commonly used in European settings. They may also live in dwellings that offer little opportunity to control heating and cooling.
Two years of strategic action, across seven diverse countries
Working with key partners (see below) in Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy and the Netherlands, WISE will systematically organise events to promote holistic approaches.
Establish National Collectives to understand the current situation for single women and create a record of who is doing what to support this group.
Host an pan-European event (Friday, 6 December 2024 / Sofia, Bulgaria) to hear from other countries and promote uptake of the WISE approach.
Organise a Translate-a-thon to address the issue that a great deal of relevant content for women and for actors exists only in English.
Host film screenings and panel discussions to raise public awareness of the plight of single women and discuss/develop solutions.
Train volunteers to become engaged in practicing energy solidarity. .
Host a series of workshops to help women understand energy and their energy rights.
Demonstrate energy solidarity by carrying out small measures to optimise energy use in women’s homes and improve their thermal comfort.
Organise national and pan-European events to give single women a voice in expressing their needs and exercising their rights and report on WISE outcomes.
Get involved!
WISE Partners are currently organising National Collective meetings that are open to all interested parties. At each event, WISE aims to have participation of women’s advocacy groups, NGOs and CSOs, local and national policy makers, academics, housing authorities, etc. Please contact the organisers indicated below.
SAVE THE DATE: FRIDAY, 6 DECEMBER, SOFIA, BULGARIA
As noted above, WISE is excited to host the first (that we know of) Pan-European event devoted entirely to examining the situation for women in energy poverty — and collectively developing strategies to tackle it holistically. More information will be made available soon. But please feel free to write the relevant contacts above to express your interest in attending.
