Across the seven countries in which it operates, SAVES2 surveyed more than 3 500 students and 400 landlords over the period 2017-20, thereby exposing some of the root causes of student energy poverty.
Complexities in the student population, including its transient nature and differences in household incomes, make it difficult to accurately measure how many students face energy poverty, according to SAVES2. The research, however, provided some insights and uncovered five main contributing factors. It also confirmed that national schemes to assist such students are rare.
Limited choice of and competition for rental dwellings. The desire to be close to campus is a top priority for students, meaning thousands of them compete for a limited number of vacancies in a confined geographic region. Many feel rushed to make decisions without asking too many questions – or avoid asking questions that might risk their chances of being selected. The stiff competition makes it a landlord’s market, and many will capitalise on the opportunity to charge high rents on low-quality accommodations.
Low awareness of energy efficiency. Very few students know how to assess whether a home is poorly insulated, has leaky windows and doors, or is stuck with an old boiler. Even fewer know they have the right to ask to a potential landlord to provide the energy performance certificate (EPC) that reveals whether a property is ranked at A (highly efficient) or G (extremely inefficient). Despite obligations to provide the EPC to potential tenants, if the ranking is low and students don’t ask, prospective landlords are unlikely to offer certificate.
High energy use, high energy bills and energy debt. Once they start receiving energy bills, many students are shocked by the actual costs. Despite significant efforts to reduce consumption and costs, including turning the heating system off for much of every day, many find their bills remain high, as was reported in Ireland (30%), Greece (29%) and Cyprus (23%). Some students reported having fallen into arrears on energy bills in the preceding 12 months.
The realities of shared accommodation and student living. With household management being undertaken by multiple people with little or no previous budgeting experience – and often little prior knowledge of each other’s financial means, daily habits or environmental values – the risk of conflict can quickly escalate. When it comes to energy, disagreements can arise among flatmates over heating/ cooling levels and how to fairly split energy bills. A classic example is one housemate keeping an electric heater on in his/her room while demanding that the total bill be split evenly. Often, only one person is named on the energy bill, who must then collect from flatmates – or even cover unpaid portion to protect his/her own credit rating.
Power imbalance between students and landlords. Students in private rented accommodation usually do not know their rights as tenants. In most countries surveyed by SAVES2, students reported they do approach their landlords about problems with the accommodation. But a significant percentage in Lithuania (29%) and Ireland (24%) said they stop short doing so out of fear that landlords would increase the rent or evict students they deem to be ‘too demanding’.
The problem of split incentives. As is true of the entire rental sector, landlords have little incentive to make homes more energy efficient as they incur the related costs while tenants reap the benefit of lower energy bills. Many are unaware of any financial incentives and grants from government that would support costs.
Understanding how energy poverty impacts student health and well-being
Among the students surveyed, SAVES2 found increases in new health problems and recurrence or worsening of existing conditions, with Bulgaria showing the most alarming figure – 33% of students had recurring problems. Troubling rates were also seen in Ireland (17% new / 19% recurring), Lithuania (12% / 7%), Greece (5% / 14%) and the UK (15% / 11%).
The impacts on women were more pronounced: they are more likely to feel cold and showed higher vulnerability to physical and mental health problems linked to energy poverty and poor-quality accommodation. Across all seven countries, 18% reported worsening of existing health problems, 15% developed new health problems and almost one in four (23%) reported feeling anxiety and depression (as compared to 8%, 15% and 19% reported by male students). But women also proved more likely to try to fix their situation, either by taking steps to adapt to the cold accommodation or implementing energy saving actions.
How SAVES 2 helps student raise energy awareness
The complexities that drive students into energy poverty require a multi-dimensional approach to reducing their exposure. In addition to working directly with students, SAVES2 helps organise advocacy work to get other actors involved -- from student unions and university administrators to landlords, energy companies and policymakers, highlighting that each has a role to play, and collaboration is crucial.
Targeted action to assist students
SAVES2 engages with students through two campaigns.
· Students Switch off (SSO) focuses on students in living in dormitories by training student ambassadors who then motivate peers to practice energy saving actions. As many on-campus housing schemes simply charge an overall fee, the actual costs of energy use are hidden from students – and they often pick up bad habits. SSO aims to foster good habits before students move into the private rental sector. The campaign uses social media to reach student communities and tries to make learning about energy fun by running competitions to lower energy consumption or minimise carbon footprints.
· Students Switch Off + (SSO+) targets student in the private rental sector, offering advice on managing household energy and covering topics such as how to understand energy tariffs and energy bills, how to programme and read smart meters, etc. It also teaches students how to understand energy performance certificates (EPCs), explains their rights as tenants and encourages them to request that landlords undertake and energy efficiency improvements.
Getting others on board to address underlying causes
The key to reducing energy poverty among the student population is improving the quality of rental housing. But in its survey of landlords, SAVES2 found that relatively few take action or even access available funding schemes to help cover costs of upgrades.
To change that, SAVES2 would like to see policy makers, universities and student unions involved in putting pressure on landlords. This might involve governments establishing national or local landlord codes and accreditation schemes, communicating to the landlord community about their obligation to provide EPCs to potential tenants, as well as information packs about how to operate heating/cooling controls. Often, it also means creating incentive schemes, including financing, to encourage landlords to undertake energy efficiency renovations to existing buildings.
In turn, universities and student unions can get on board by engaging with the landlord community around the campus to better understand the impacts of energy poverty, learn about energy efficiency and raise awareness of government schemes. To protect students, universities can also set up approved landlord schemes that ensure only energy efficient accommodations are advertised through campus systems. Landlords who want to benefit from the certification and exposure will be motivated to fix their properties. Universities and student unions might also set up hardship support for vulnerable students with unresponsive landlords or who face problems with energy companies.
Finally, SAVES2 hope that energy companies will come to recognise students as potentially vulnerable customers and support them by offering low-cost students tariffs and training customer advisors to provide useful information, advice and better support.
Text prepared by Almustaqim Balogun, EnAct Intern
