Densification, what does it mean for fuel poverty and energy justice? An empirical analysis

Energy is increasingly at the forefront of the global political agenda. While there is a longstanding literature relating to fuel poverty and increasingly energy justice, there remains little evidence which explores its link with the urban form. Specifically, the purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the urban consolidation hypothesis and the cultivation of energy justice in Australia. This study uses data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey (years 2007-2014), a national probability sample and indefinite life panel. The substantive findings of this study demonstrate that for low income and renting households greater urban density corresponds to a higher likelihood of experiencing fuel poverty. Further, for households with a dwelling type described as an apartment (two or three storeys) there is a separate and quite generalisable indication that this type of dwelling is associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing fuel poverty. This study connects the debate regarding urban consolidation and energy consumption to the fuel poverty and energy justice literature. Alongside this contribution, this study also provides policymakers and planners with new evidence to inform remediation policies that are directed at supporting the fuel poor.