Energy efficiency, Italy is slow. In fact, the IEA report presented at the Verona Efficiency Summit, the first international forum dedicated to the topic, shows that the energy efficiency market is worth 310 billion dollars a year worldwide and allows for savings in consumption in the 18 countries monitored from the International Energy Agency by 5% to 2011, in Italy awareness of the phenomenon is still partial and paradoxically - in some cases - less among the younger generations than among the previous ones, and certainly less in the South than in the Centre-North.
This was revealed by EMG Acqua, the research institute led by the President Stefano Mazza-Galanti and the Director Fabrizio Masia which conducted, on behalf of the Verona event, a survey on a sample of the adult Italian population, carried out in September. For example, the survey shows that only 1 out of 3 respondents (34,1%) is unaware of the fact that electricity costs less during the weekend. However, particular accentuations are found in Central (42,5%) and Southern Italy (38,2%), as well as among young students (49,2%), while the level of knowledge of the less onerous moments of the day is acceptable for electricity consumption (71,9%). Even there, however, above all young people (28,0%) admit less knowledge on the subject.
There is also often confusion between efficiency and savings: less than 1 interviewee out of 2 (45,4%) correctly distinguishes the difference between efficiency and energy saving and greater confusion between the two concepts is found among housewives (37,4% ) and in Southern Italy (36,1%). Upstream knowledge of the existence of the energy efficiency certificate is in fact scarce: only 1 interviewee out of 2 (49,1%) is aware of it. Less knowledge is found among housewives (30,2%) and once again students (29,8%), especially in Central (43,1%) and Southern Italy (35,1%).
However, the opportunity for efficiency is often underestimated, as the EMG Acqua survey once again reveals: less than 1 interviewee out of 2 (46,3%) is in fact aware of the 50% tax bonus for energy efficiency measures. Less knowledge is found among housewives (32,2%) and students (25,5%) and in Central (36,6%) and Southern Italy (35,9%). However, there is good will: good, even if conditioned by the amount of the difference to be paid, the propensity to spend a higher price for the purchase of a more efficient household appliance (82,8%). The propensity is lower in Southern Italy (77,8%).
And then the inevitable fears for international conflicts. Starting from the data that few know about the gas supplies from Norway (0,9%) and Algeria (5,9%) compared to the real scenario (the two countries actually account for 12,1% and 20,1% respectively ), the Italian population remains very concerned on the Russian and Ukrainian front: 4 out of 5 interviewees (80,3%) fear the increase in the gas bill following a possible conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
In this case the particular accentuations are found among the over 35 year olds (84,0%), in the North East (86,2%) and in the centers with 30-100 thousand inhabitants (88,0%). However, the question was asked before the announcement on 30/9/2014 of the actual increase in gas and electricity bills.
Attachments: survey summary document.pdf
