Access to energy has been viewed as one of the ways of uplifting the living standards of people (Center for American Progress, 2013). This case reflects on the physiological versus sociological indicators of energy poverty. The inadequate renewable energy supply is quite widespread. This has lead to limited access to other physical recourses that require energy to maintain.
Such physical resources include appropriate housing units, health facilities and services, access to information on nutritional health, and other necessities. The governments’ lack of commitment in the distribution of electrical energy in rural areas is also a major issue of concern. The rural populations are the majority in these regions the rural settings.
The prolonged limited access to energy has also affected the sociological aspects of life. Some governments have poor economic policies (Nussbaumera, Bazilian & Modi, 2012). As a result, people from such regions have relatively poor political representation that eventually amounts to alienation. This has also led to lack of adequate renewable energy.
On the same note, there is frequent limited access to electricity in the affected regions. At the same time, this limited access to electricity has significantly aggravated the energy poverty levels among residents from this region. Physiological and sociological indicators of poverty portrayed by this study reveal a lot of useful information that can be used assessing the causes and impacts of energy poverty.
In any case, there is need to put in place appropriate measures that can address energy. The above indicators are easily measurable. The analysis of the poverty status in regions with limited or no access to renewable energy sources such as electricity offers adequate and vital information. Moreover, the comparison of poverty levels in this region and other areas that have access to electricity reveal the prevailing disparity and challenges.
Hence, regions with enough energy sources have few cases of poverty. Therefore, this physiological aspect links energy to poverty. The governments of these regions have poor economic policies that tend to neglect marginalized areas. Lack of political commitment and goodwill reflect the sociological aspect of linking energy poverty with the use of non-renewable energy resources.
Therefore, this indicator offers an in-depth analysis of the poverty situation in the region. The lack of enough energy supplies is perceived to be a major contributor to poverty in this region (Nussbaumera, Bazilian & Modi, 2012). The physiological versus sociological indicator is therefore a reliable source of analysis when studying energy poverty.
This can be attributed to the fact that it is easy to comprehend. The indicator also offers a focused study on how input of energy can result into uplifting the living standards of people. Access to energy has a significant impact on the living standards of a community (Center for American Progress, 2013).
However, this indicator fails to relate other aspects that contribute to poverty in relation to energy access. The neglect can be associated with naivety and lack of awareness on their rights (Center for American Progress, 2013). The use of such information will enable in-depth understanding of the concept.
However, this indicator has failed to highlight other aspects of energy poverty. Aspects such as reduced working hours due to lack of energy, effects of environmental degradation, and the economic impact of energy poverty can be highlighted by this indicator (Center for American Progress, 2013). Finally, the analyses the aspects on energy poverty require the use of a combined study on several indicators.
References
Center for American Progress (2013). Energy Poverty 101. Web.
Nussbaumera, P., Bazilian, M. & Modi, V. (2012). Measuring energy poverty: Focusing on what matters. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 16, 231– 243.