For a recording of the workshop please use the following link
On 3rd June, RVO hosted a hybrid workshop on Energy Poverty and Health, bringing together both energy & Health experts from across Europe to examine the intersection between energy poverty and public health. Organised within the framework of the EnR Behaviour Change Working Group, the event highlighted how inadequate energy access is not only a financial issue but also a pressing public health concern. The workshop demonstrated how local initiatives can drive impactful change by addressing the health consequences of poor housing conditions.
Koen Straver (TNO, the Netherlands) opened the session by presenting Dutch research on the health impacts of energy poverty. This was followed by Carlos Contente (Lisboa E-Nova, Portugal), who shared findings from a Lisbon-based survey conducted in collaboration with the University of Lisbon’s School of Medicine, focusing on thermal discomfort and its health implications.
A panel discussion moderated by René Schellekens (RVO, the Netherlands) featured contributions from experts representing TNO, E-Nova, 75inQ, and TU Eindhoven. The panel explored practical approaches to integrating health considerations into energy policy and programme design.
Eileen O’Connor (Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment, Ireland) presented the Warmth & Wellbeing Pilot Scheme, which demonstrated measurable health improvements resulting from energy retrofits in vulnerable households.
Piotr Kepa (KAPE, Poland) introduced the K-HEALTHinAIR project, which investigates the relationship between heating sources, indoor air quality, and health outcomes in residential and educational settings.
The closing panel featured Declan Meally (SEAI, Ireland), Nathalie Kamst (Municipal Health Service, Netherlands), and Vincent Roberdel (TU Eindhoven), who discussed strategies for embedding health outcomes into energy policy and implementation frameworks.
Rebecca van Leeuwen, Chair of the EnR Behaviour Change Working Group and representative of RVO, concluded the workshop by summarising key insights and outlining next steps for the Working Group. She also encouraged participants to submit abstracts for the upcoming EnR BEHAVE 25 Conference, to be held on 11–12 December in Paris, hosted by ADEME, France.
This workshop served not only as a platform for knowledge exchange but also as a call to action. The discussions reinforced the urgent need to address energy poverty through a health-focused lens and to design energy policies that prioritise human well-being at the heart of the energy transition.