13 CoNCLUSIoN: CoMPARING HoUSEHoLD ENERGY …
147
CLimatiC ConDitions anD the Cost of fueLs
Climatic conditions will also have an influence on how energy-using
practices play out, especially in terms of heating and cooling, but also
in relation to other practices such as the option for drying clothes outdoors or the necessity to refrigerate foodstuff. The categorisation of
different climates varies according to the sources and the description
methods, and moreover, climates are far from being homogenous in the
whole national territory. In Switzerland, the temperature significantly
depends on altitude, with high variation from Arctic to Mediterranean
types of climate. Furthermore, climate change will have a significant
impact on the Swiss climate: local climatic warming in the Alpine arc is
twice as important as the global average. Finland has an annual average
temperature of 2 °C (a little more than 5 °C in Helsinki on the South
Coast and about 0 °C in Sodankylä in Lapland). Furthermore, this
Nordic country is associated with a great variability in the availability
of sunlight over the year: during winter solstice, the sun is up for less
than 6 hours in Helsinki, and during summer solstice, for almost 19
hours. Thus, with a focus on countries situated in Central and Northern
Europe, the main implication for household energy use is related to
home heating.
The price of energy in Europe depends on a mix of conditions,
including climatic conditions as mentioned above, as well as access to
energy sources, and levels of subsidies and taxation. In 2017, the average
electricity price for household consumers was 0.20 (Euro per kWh) in
the European Union (0.21 in the European area). The average price of
natural gas for EU household consumers was 0.06 Euro per kWh (0.07
in the European area), with a range of between 0.04 and 0.11 Euro per
kWh. The lowest prices are in Bulgaria and in Hungary (the highest,
in Sweden), where the respective governments have an explicit aim to
keep household energy prices low, and where access to affordable energy
remains an important concern for a large proportion of the population.
The cost of electricity may also vary depending on the type of consumer
(e.g. household, business, industry), the time of consumption (where
day or night rates apply) and the type of the band (kWh capacity). In
Germany and Denmark, where systems are mostly operated by private
energy companies, the prices are the highest at more than 0.30 Euro per
kWh. In contrast, electricity prices in Bulgaria are among the lowest in
Europe at less than 0.10 Euro per kWh.
147
CLimatiC ConDitions anD the Cost of fueLs
Climatic conditions will also have an influence on how energy-using
practices play out, especially in terms of heating and cooling, but also
in relation to other practices such as the option for drying clothes outdoors or the necessity to refrigerate foodstuff. The categorisation of
different climates varies according to the sources and the description
methods, and moreover, climates are far from being homogenous in the
whole national territory. In Switzerland, the temperature significantly
depends on altitude, with high variation from Arctic to Mediterranean
types of climate. Furthermore, climate change will have a significant
impact on the Swiss climate: local climatic warming in the Alpine arc is
twice as important as the global average. Finland has an annual average
temperature of 2 °C (a little more than 5 °C in Helsinki on the South
Coast and about 0 °C in Sodankylä in Lapland). Furthermore, this
Nordic country is associated with a great variability in the availability
of sunlight over the year: during winter solstice, the sun is up for less
than 6 hours in Helsinki, and during summer solstice, for almost 19
hours. Thus, with a focus on countries situated in Central and Northern
Europe, the main implication for household energy use is related to
home heating.
The price of energy in Europe depends on a mix of conditions,
including climatic conditions as mentioned above, as well as access to
energy sources, and levels of subsidies and taxation. In 2017, the average
electricity price for household consumers was 0.20 (Euro per kWh) in
the European Union (0.21 in the European area). The average price of
natural gas for EU household consumers was 0.06 Euro per kWh (0.07
in the European area), with a range of between 0.04 and 0.11 Euro per
kWh. The lowest prices are in Bulgaria and in Hungary (the highest,
in Sweden), where the respective governments have an explicit aim to
keep household energy prices low, and where access to affordable energy
remains an important concern for a large proportion of the population.
The cost of electricity may also vary depending on the type of consumer
(e.g. household, business, industry), the time of consumption (where
day or night rates apply) and the type of the band (kWh capacity). In
Germany and Denmark, where systems are mostly operated by private
energy companies, the prices are the highest at more than 0.30 Euro per
kWh. In contrast, electricity prices in Bulgaria are among the lowest in
Europe at less than 0.10 Euro per kWh.