The scheme aims to assist and educate vulnerable people to cope with hardships related to utility bills, and faulty appliances; as well as to reduce water and electricity consumption on a national scale. The scheme does this through site visits to vulnerable households, offering general water and electricity audits and technical advice on how to economise on consumption. The scheme is promoted through TV and radio, and through handouts.
Case study profile
Introduction
The vulnerable households scheme aims to provide more energy efficient appliances (washing machines, fridge freezers and air conditioning units) to vulnerable households, instead of faulty and/or inefficient appliances. This alleviates both water and electricity bills, and aims to empower and build resilience among the more vulnerable strata of Maltese society.
Behavioural insights
The scheme is educational in nature. In designing the scheme, the barriers to energy efficiency were explored, including level of knowledge and education of the different households, the standard of living of the vulnerable people, as well as health and cultural factors.
Outcomes and impacts
Monitoring has shown improvements in consumption behaviour among many participants. However, some households faced environmental or personal barriers that limited their ability to fully benefit from the appliances provided. The scheme has improved standards of living, increased awareness of energy and water use and personal growth for scheme participants. Lessons learnt include the importance of tailoring procurement procedures to better serve vulnerable groups. While replication is not currently planned, the model offers valuable insights for similar initiatives.