In 2013, Italian families paid a total of over 42 billion euros for energy consumption, with an average expenditure per family of 1.635 euros. This was announced by a report released by Istat, which reveals strong territorial differences in expenditure: in the North, in fact, the amount of consumption exceeds that recorded in the South by about 30%, with a surplus of 400 euros.
The average annual expense grows in proportion to both the number of family members and their age. A single young family spends on average about 650 euros less than a couple with three or more children. The home's heating systems remain on every day during the winter season for 87% of families, with significant territorial differences (98% in Bolzano and 62% in Sicily).
The heating system is used, on average, for about eight hours a day. Also in this case there are very evident territorial differences: families residing in the North turn it on on average two hours more than those in the Center and three and a half hours more than those in the South.
Almost all families live in homes equipped with space and water heating systems, while air conditioning systems are much less widespread: only 3 out of 10 families have them, with peaks downwards in Valle d'Aosta (only 1,5% of families) and upwards in Sardinia (almost 50%).
Families declare that they have made investments in energy savings over the last 5 years for various reasons: over half to reduce electricity costs, 21% for home heating costs, 15% for water heating and, finally, 10% for air conditioning.
