Teams

Research Team 1

Topic: Social Sustainability of the Energy Transition of Housing

Supervisor: Mgr. Vojtěch Bosák, Ph.D.

Reducing energy consumption in buildings is a key step on the path to a carbon-neutral society. However, relevant aspects go beyond technology and finance — social aspects also play a crucial role. In the area of ​​housing, investments toward increasing energy efficiency bring not only lower energy costs, but also challenges such as rising rents or the risk of eviction of residents from renovated buildings.

This research focuses on how investment in energy renovations of apartment buildings affect the lives of tenants, especially in former industrial cities of the Ostrava Metropolitan Area (OMA). In this context, the priority is to renovate existing buildings to today’s standards instead of constructing new. This approach can not only save natural resources but also support better living conditions for today’s residents.

Our areas of interest

  • How investments in insulation and other energy-saving measures affect the quality of life of residents?
  • What are the social impacts, for example on housing affordability and community stability?
  • What hinders or, on the contrary, supports sustainable investments that would not reduce housing affordability?

Our research methods

We conduct questionnaire surveys among tenants and interviews with apartment building owners, non-profit organizations, and public administration representatives. The result will be a proposal for measures that can accelerate the energy transition process while taking into account people’s needs.

Future solutions: Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)

We are also interested in what is termed Positive Energy Districts — areas that produce more energy than they consume. These modern concepts connect technological innovation with residential needs. Although they have not yet been implemented in the Ostrava Metropolitan Area, their introduction could bring both ecological and social benefits.

Research Team 2

Topic: Impacts and Solutions to Energy Poverty of the Most Vulnerable Groups of Residents in the Ostrava Metropolitan Area

Supervisor: Prof. Mgr. Soňa Kalenda Vávrová, Ph.D.

Energy poverty is a topic that affects the lives of millions of people in Europe and around the world. It refers to a situation where energy costs represent a disproportionately high share of income or where people must reduce energy consumption to such an extent that it can have a serious impact on their health and well-being. The Ostrava metropolitan area faces many challenges associated with energy poverty, especially among vulnerable groups of the population.

What is energy poverty?

Energy poverty can be defined as a state where people do not have sufficient financial resources to cover their energy needs, or a state where they must reduce energy consumption to such an extent that it has a negative impact on their living conditions. This situation mainly affects low-income families, single mothers, older adults and single women living on a pension.

What are the consequences of energy poverty?

Energy poverty has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of families. Another consequence is the risk of residential segregation, where low-income families may be forced to leave their homes and move to areas with worse conditions, which can lead to further social exclusion.

The proposed measures include:

  • Improving the energy efficiency of housing
  • Providing support in the form of counselling and educational programmes
  • Developing social services aimed at vulnerable groups

Research Team 3

Topic: Primary Schools and Their Role as Ambassadors of the Energy Transition

Supervisor: Mgr. Bohdana Richterová, Ph.D.

Research Team 3 focuses on the role of primary schools in spreading awareness about sustainable development and the energy transition. The team’s goal is to explore how schools can actively influence students, teachers, parents and the wider community to engage together in solving current environmental challenges. A key tool is supporting schools in their efforts toward innovation in the environmental education, training and awareness (EEA), with a particular emphasis on topics related to the energy transition.

What do we want to find out and how will we achieve it?

The team is trying to implement participatory action research in four primary schools, three of which are given the School of Sustainable Development label, and one is a control school without this label.

The analysis also focuses on assessing existing measures in the area of ​​EEA and their potential for further development. The aim is not only to monitor the impacts of these changes, but also to support schools in their role as “ambassadors” of sustainable energy.

This research brings valuable insights into how schools can play a key role in supporting sustainable development and the energy transition. The results obtained will contribute not only to a better understanding of the role of environmental education, but also to the development of specific tools and methods that can be used by other schools.

Research Team 4

Topic: Identification of Adaptation Strategies of Residents of the Ostrava Metropolitan Area in Connection with Adverse Living Conditions and Risks Associated with the Energy Transition

Supervisor: PhDr. Tereza Kimplová, Ph.D.

The aim of the research is to determine how people in the Ostrava Metropolitan Area (OMA) perceive their life satisfaction, what adaptation strategies are used within challenging living conditions, and how they approach the energy transition. We also examine the role of spirituality in this process, in particular how spiritual orientation influences the ability to adapt to these changes.

What specifically are we investigating?

  • What specific steps do people take to adapt, and how their approach differs depending on age, gender, and socioeconomic status?
  • How spirituality influences individuals’ decision-making and adaptation to life changes, including those associated with the energy transition?
  • What positive and negative adaptation strategies do people use and how do they influence their perception of life satisfaction?

What challenges does the energy transition present, and how can we overcome them?

The energy transition is inevitable, but it can encounter psychological barriers. Changes in energy availability, new technologies, and economic demands can cause stress and social problems. Research will help us better understand how people perceive these changes and in what ways they adapt.

Can spirituality help in adapting to challenging changes?

Spirituality has proven to be a powerful tool in adapting to life changes. The research will focus on how spiritual values ​​and practices can help people to better cope with challenging situations, including those associated with the energy transition.

Institute for Research and Applications of Fuzzy Modelling

The Institute for Research and Applications of Fuzzy Modelling (ÚVAFM) of the University of Ostrava is part of the STENEO project and provides valuable support to research teams in several key areas. Thanks to its expertise in fuzzy modelling, the institute participates in comprehensive modelling and data analysis that are essential for progress in areas such as sustainable development, energy transition, and the study of public perception of these topics. This ability is invaluable in exploring the complex social, environmental, and technological issues that are part of the research within the STENEO project.

How do we determine what people really think about sustainability and energy change?

Fuzzy modelling allows us to capture subtle nuances in people’s opinions and attitudes, which is key to finding out how people imagine changes in the field of sustainable development and energy transition. The STENEO research teams focus on analysing the behaviour and attitudes of the population and their reaction to the challenges associated with these topics. ÚVAFM can contribute to better interpretation and analysis of this data, especially where the answers are not precisely quantifiable.

How to forecast trends and prepare for the future with ÚVAFM tools?

The institute has advanced tools for analysing and forecasting trends in various areas. Using tools such as LFL Forecaster, STENEO project research teams can better predict long-term changes in human behaviour, effectively respond to new technological and environmental challenges, and design optimal solutions for the future development of the Ostrava Metropolitan Area.