Abstract
This study investigates whether investment in information and communication technologies (ICT) results in measurable household energy savings and reduced energy poverty across the European Union. Drawing on panel data for 27 EU countries over 1995–2024, a first-difference model with time fixed effects and Driscoll–Kraay robust standard errors was employed. At the EU-wide level, no statistically significant relationship was found between ICT expenditure and the household energy saving rate, energy poverty rate, or final energy consumption. National-level estimates, however, indicate different findings: investments in computer hardware and telecommunications significantly affect the heterogeneity of ICT effects, although to a limited extent. Country-level heterogeneity mainly concerns the impact on energy poverty. The absence of broader effects — especially in lower-income countries — points to rebound mechanisms and the rising energy intensity of ICT technologies themselves.
Paper Type
Short Paper
DOI
10.62036/ISD.2026.197
Investment in the ICT sector and energy savings in households – an analysis dependencies for the European Union
This study investigates whether investment in information and communication technologies (ICT) results in measurable household energy savings and reduced energy poverty across the European Union. Drawing on panel data for 27 EU countries over 1995–2024, a first-difference model with time fixed effects and Driscoll–Kraay robust standard errors was employed. At the EU-wide level, no statistically significant relationship was found between ICT expenditure and the household energy saving rate, energy poverty rate, or final energy consumption. National-level estimates, however, indicate different findings: investments in computer hardware and telecommunications significantly affect the heterogeneity of ICT effects, although to a limited extent. Country-level heterogeneity mainly concerns the impact on energy poverty. The absence of broader effects — especially in lower-income countries — points to rebound mechanisms and the rising energy intensity of ICT technologies themselves.
Recommended Citation
Nagaj, R., Žuromskaitė-Nagaj, B. & Czaplewski, M.(2026). Investment in the ICT sector and energy savings in households – an analysis dependencies for the European Union. In M. Valenta, B. Mannová, R. Pergl, A. Przybylek, M. Lang, H. Linger, C. Schneider, N. Iivari, & E. Insfran (Eds.), Making ISD Sustainable: Reloaded with AI and Automation (ISD2026 Proceedings). Prague, Czech Republic: Czech Technical University in Prague. ISBN: 978-80-01-07585-2. https://doi.org/10.62036/ISD.2026.197