Veni, vidi, vixi: Heterogeneities in residential floor space and energy consumption across households in Italy

Mastrucci, A. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5611-7780, Maracchini, G., Kikstra, J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9405-1228, Zaini, T. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0744-8993, & van Ruijven, B. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1232-5892 (2026). Veni, vidi, vixi: Heterogeneities in residential floor space and energy consumption across households in Italy. Energy and Buildings 367 e117745. 10.1016/j.enbuild.2026.117745.

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Abstract

Floor space is an important housing indicator closely linked to both service levels and energy consumption. Floor space levels have been commonly related to income, yet heterogeneities across housing and household groups, including gender and age, are mostly overlooked. An improved understanding of how floor space relates to household and housing characteristics and energy consumption is needed to better support policies related to energy poverty, sufficiency, and access to decent living standards.
We use national household microdata and statistical analysis to investigate the distribution and heterogeneities of residential floor space and energy consumption across the population of Italy, a relevant case study due to ageing, ownership patterns, and regional and other disparities. Although per capita floor space is positively associated with expenditure levels, our empirical findings indicate that household composition and size are even stronger predictors. Per capita floor space is three times larger for singles compared to couples with two children or more, and even higher for elderly singles. Households living below two per capita floor space thresholds (15 m2/cap and 30 m2/cap) exhibit distinct characteristics, with significant overlaps with difficult economic conditions for the lower threshold. Per capita natural gas energy consumption exhibits similar heterogeneities across household types, sizes, and expediture deciles, while energy consumption intensity per unit of floor space decreases with increasing floor space. This study highlights the importance of considering household heterogeneity in floor space and energy consumption analyses to improve the understanding and modelling of living conditions and to inform sufficiency policies.

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