Rising energy costs are a greater burden in communities of color and low income communities. Low income households and households of color disproportionately struggle to meet basic energy needs due to a variety of factors: high energy expenditure as compared to income, inefficient buildings, inefficient appliances, status of home ownership and varying household structures and energy needs that are not addressed by current energy program design.
Often vulnerable households are forced to engage in risky behaviors to meet their energy needs which include using high-interest payday loans, using unsafe heating appliances.
CEED utilizes mapping exercises to illustrate and assess the factors that lead to households becoming energy vulnerable. We also utilize storytelling as a methodology to gather qualitative data on how households in environmental justice communities are meeting the challenges of energy vulnerability.
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