TECH Clean California’s Post

So many are struggling with the cost of energy, more acutely during extreme weather to boot. While acknowledging energy inefficient housing is an environmental, economic and health issue is pretty straightforward, pathways to improved efficiency across a variety of housing types, particularly tenant occupied spaces, is complex and nuanced. This is a great resource for understanding the layers of barriers, contributing factors of energy burden, and considerations, paired with resonant examples of how to tear those barriers down and deliver greater energy equity to vulnerable residents. Great work The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)!

With states and localities set to receive billions of dollars for residential energy upgrades from the Inflation Reduction Act and other sources, the new R2E2 Playbook aims to help ensure that disadvantaged communities and local governments have guidance to leverage these dollars with energy upgrade programs that are community-led, easy to use, and use best practices. The Playbook outlines 12 key actions to help programs lower utility bills, cut pollution, advance racial equity, improve health outcomes, and build local economies. “Unaffordable energy bills, uncomfortable or even dangerous indoor temperatures, and the impacts of climate change disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color. But underserved communities often have the least access to the resources needed to bring home energy upgrades to vulnerable residents,” said Ian Becker, project lead for the Playbook and Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity manager at ACEEE. “Community-based organizations and local governments nationwide are ready to meet this challenge, and the R2E2 Playbook is designed to help them implement innovative programs that center community priorities and improve quality of life.” https://lnkd.in/ezkE_WAE

Environmental justice is critical to the clean energy transition. Energy burden is exacerbated for low- and middle-income residents. In Columbia, South Carolina, many homes and apartments in Columbia are poorly insulated and have leaky building envelopes, requiring residents to pay for more air conditioning or heat to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. A coalition led by the City of Columbia worked with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), through Communities LEAP, to analyze energy efficiency and electrification options to lower energy burden for residents, and by extension, create business and job opportunities in Columbia. NREL recently attended a summit in Columbia to present its analysis of residential energy efficiency and electrification options for housing in Columbia. The analysis looked at community-wide savings based on type of housing upgrade, and found that basic envelope upgrades, like adding insulation to exterior walls and sealing gaps around doors and windows, are the most cost-effective method for lowering energy consumption and reducing energy bills. The summit also highlighted the opportunity to put funding and incentive information for residents in an accessible place. Community-focused initiatives like Communities LEAP aim to help all members of communities benefit from #renewableEnergy and #energyEfficiency initiatives. #climatechange #EnvironmentalJustice

Our industry is asking: how can we ensure all communities access the benefits of the clean energy transition? TRC Companies, Inc. is working with Oregon Housing & Community Services to address systemic inequity in energy efficiency program design. By engaging and empowering stakeholders from within historically underserved communities, we’re making progress on removing barriers to participation. Read about our findings here: https://okt.to/4tbHfZ #EnergyEquity #CommunityEngagement

We are thrilled to see this economic and environmental investment by the Biden Administration in rural communities! Rural communities are a critical part of meeting our sustainability goals and connecting our clean energy corridors to move commercial freight transportation across our country. "Rural communities, with their small populations and isolation from larger electrical systems, grapple with unique energy challenges. These include high electric bills, high fuel costs, and unreliable energy supplies — or lack of access to electricity altogether. At the same time, rural communities have untapped potential for generating clean energy." Clean Energy Now is committed to ensuring rural communities are catapulted to have affordable, secure, and clean energy independence. Let's goooo!! ⚡️☀️🚀 #cleanenergy #ruralcommunities #affordableenergy #sustainability https://lnkd.in/gkeS6Hrx

"The lack of #investment in renewable #energyinfrastructure in these areas perpetuates a cycle of energy #inequity, disproportionately affecting those who can least afford it." Staff writer Hafiz Muhammad Taimoor Khalid emphasizes the need for #electricity billing in #Chicago to be more predictable, particularly to support #lowincome and #marginalized communities. It suggests that unpredictable #energycosts exacerbate financial strain on these populations, advocating for policies that stabilize electricity rates and promote access to #sustainableenergy solutions. This approach aims to reduce economic disparities and environmental impact, underscoring the importance of #energyjustice in policy planning. #electricitymarkets #energypolicy #marginalizedcommunities #renewableenergy

Neighborhood decarbonization pilot programs can start in California. #EnergyEfficiency #Decarbonization #Electrification https://hubs.li/Q02RnCYs0

Northern Virginia is at the forefront of the Renovation Wave in the Commonwealth of Virginia actively pursuing #weatherization, energy efficiency and #solar projects in an effort to decarbonize its energy resources. The Commonwealth is committed through the Virginia Clean Economy Act to provide 100% clean energy to the region by 2045. Further, the provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act provide additional catalyst to support more efforts to decarbonize. As was recently reported in the New York Times, U.S. carbon emissions fell in 2023. The region's local governments are leading by example following through in the adoption of resiliency and/or sustainability plans to help reduce their energy use. Several localities have built and opened net-zero school facilities, converted street lights to LED technology, have invested in electric public transit buses, purchased electric vehicles, supported the Solarize NoVA program, have become SolSmart certified and undertaken other measures to lead the way. At the Northern Virginia Regional Commission we are pleased to work with our local government partners and others in these efforts. https://lnkd.in/eSbJ_3Cb

So much of our work at the moment, is working with communities and clients convening, listening, connecting dots and trying to shine a light on local solutions and pathways forward for the transition that is positive for regional, rural and remote people and place. It’s a long game. Cracking article 👏

This WBUR story highlights an important discussion on energy equity in Massachusetts. The Sponsors of Mass Save launched the Community First Partnership two years ago to empower communities and support income eligible customers and residents who speak languages other than English by improving the energy efficiency of their homes.   Thanks to Community First Partners like City of Lowell, also a 2023 Mass Save Climate Leader, more residents are taking advantage of Mass Save energy efficiency programs that reduce energy costs and enhance home comfort. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dGggzi63