Survey on Final Energy Consumption in Households, 2009

Methodological Note on the Survey on Final Energy Consumption in Households, 2009

The Survey on Final Energy Consumption in Households was carried out by the Statistical Service for the first time in Cyprus. The reference year for the survey was 2009 (i.e., the period from 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2009).
The aim of the survey was the collection of data regarding energy consumption, with respect to the type of dwellings and the demographic
characteristics of households, the type of end use categories (space heating, water heating, space cooling, cooking, electrical appliances and lighting) and the various energy sources (liquid and solid fuels, electricity, renewable energy sources) that households use in Cyprus.
The survey was addressed to households, whose residents had their permanent or usual residence in Cyprus, irrespective of their citizenship or country of origin. The survey sample comprised 3.300 households,
distributed in all administrative districts and areas (urban and rural) of the country and was representative of the population structure. Data collection was conducted by means of personal interviews in households. For this purpose, 15 interviewers were employed on a casual basis during the period from 20/9/2010 until 25/1/2011.
The survey questionnaire was developed by the Statistical Service of Cyprus on the basis of a common paper of recommended parameters and
methodological guidelines that had been prepared by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat). In this respect, the contribution of the Energy Service of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism proved particularly valuable.
The survey was partly financed by the European Commission, within the framework of the efforts to further develop energy statistics, in line with the provisions of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2008.


Definitions of terms used
Household A household is defined as a person, a family, or even a group of non relatives that reside within the same home. Members of the household that are temporarily away during the interview (e.g. on a trip, hospitalised etc) are included.
Permanent residence
For the current survey a residence is considered as permanent if it was occupied by the household for at least 6 months within the reference year. Residences for which this condition did not apply were not taken into account.
Type of residence 1. Single house/Single dwelling: a housing unit that is built on its own independent plot and has direct access to the road. In the case
where part of the building includes commercial shops the residence is again considered as a single house. 2. Semi-detached or doublex: a housing unit built on a plot that contains two independent residences that are attached to each other either vertically or horizontally. The residences may have their exits at a common space within the building plot, or direct different exits towards the road.
3. Apartment: a housing unit that is part of a building constructed within one or more plots and comprises three or more residences. The residences may have their exits at a common space within the building plot, or direct different exits towards the road. 4. Row Houses: more than two residences built next to each other in a row and attached on both their sides. This kind of dwelling is most commonly found in the town centers and in villages.
5. Other (e.g. back yard house): a housing unit that lies on the same plot with another main residence and has a separate exit to the road (directly or through the common garden). This kind of dwelling is usually built at the back yard of a main residence.
Type of tenure 1. Owned/Rented: A residence is considered to be owned in the case where the title deed holder is a member of the household (residences on
mortgage are included). A residence is considered to be rented in the case where it is being occupied by the household in return of regular payments to its owner. 2. Provided for free: This is the case where a residence is neither owned nor rented but has been provided for free by a relative or friend, or by the state (e.g. refugee campus residences not having a title deed or former Turkish Cypriot residences).

Year of building construction It is defined as the year where the building has been fully completed.
Surface area of residence in square metres It includes all closed as well as covered spaces, e.g. covered verandas, covered parking spaces, basements etc. Lofts are included only in the cases that are used as living spaces and not as storage space.
Surface area of residence for which heating was used during the cold period
It is defined as the area (in square metres) of heated spaces within the residence. It excludes rooms within the residence which are isolated from the rest of the house (e.g. garage, basement) in which heating is not available for energy saving purposes.
Main type of heating equipment used in the residence The heating equipment used more often as the source of space heating in the residence is defined as the main type of heating equipment used.

Surface area of residence for which cooling was used during the cold period It is defined as the area (in square metres) of air conditioned (cooled) spaces within the residence. Rooms within the residence which are not air conditioned (e.g. garage, basement, rooms not equipped with air conditioning units etc) are excluded.
Energy for water heating It is defined as the energy consumed to warm up water used for bathing,
house cleaning, dish washing and generally in activities other than cooking.
Heating insulation of residence Heating insulation is defined as the deceleration of heat exchange of the building with its surroundings through the building surfaces (walls, roofs, floors, doors, windows). It is achieved with the use of various insulation materials and techniques such as glass wool, polystyrene,
thermal insulation bricks, double walls with polystyrene, double glazing etc.
Consumption Consumption is defined as the quantity of fuels, biomass and charcoal that was purchased during the reference year and not the quantity consumed during this period.
Annual gross income of the household
Household’s annual gross income is defined as the total income of all household’s members, from all sources (e.g. permanent job or other part time job or activity like agriculture). It includes taxes, social insurance or other cut offs. The gross income comprises all of the unemployment benefit or any other form of public financial benefit.
Kilogram of oil equivalent (kgoe) It is equal to 41,868 x 106 Joules. This quantity of energy is equivalent
to the net heat content of 1 kg of crude oil.

Last Updated: 05/10/2011