energy poverty

[ en-er-jee pov-er-tee ]

noun

1. a lack of adequate access to safe, affordable sources of electricity or fuel for warmth, light, cooking, etc.:

   The report stated that households living in privately rented homes are more at risk of experiencing energy poverty than those who own their own homes.

Word History and Origins

Origin of energy poverty¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

But those energy retrofits are expensive and are likely beyond the reach of many low-income households, which could lead to what the researchers call an energy poverty trap.

From Science Daily

"The clean energy transition is hindered by an energy poverty trap because the extensive retrofits needed to make electrification affordable are themselves too expensive for low-income households," said study lead author Claire McKenna, a doctoral candidate at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability.

From Science Daily

Such programs can be paired with federal- and state-funded retrofit programs to simultaneously improve the building stock and mitigate energy poverty, according to the study authors.

From Science Daily

“By inviting the oil and gas industry to participate in the conversation, we can create pragmatic solutions to addressing global energy poverty while minimizing our environmental impact,” Pursell said in a statement.

From Seattle Times

I don’t want to get used to rent-burden and energy poverty, too.

From Seattle Times