Poster #73 - Navigating Energy Insecurity in Low-Income Renting Households

• In Event: Friday Poster Reception

Abstract

In 2020, across the US, 1 in 10 homes received a disconnection notice due to unpaid energy bills, and another 1 in 10 could not afford to maintain safe indoor temperatures, resulting in unsafe living conditions. Energy insecurity, the inability of a household to afford energy for necessary services like heating or cooling, can result in households spending a disproportionate portion of income on energy bills, or restricting energy use, foregoing essential services like heating and air conditioning. As climate change brings more extreme weather, addressing these vulnerabilities is a key policy issue.

Thermal comfort, which refers to personal satisfaction with temperature levels, is a critical aspect of living conditions. For low-income households, achieving thermal comfort can be particularly challenging due to energy insecurity. These households often struggle to maintain indoor temperatures within a comfortable range, having to make tradeoffs between spending on energy bills and other necessities, leading to adverse effects. Understanding the factors that influence thermal comfort, such as thermostat settings, indoor and outdoor conditions, and energy use behaviors, is essential for developing effective interventions to improve living conditions.

Researchers have identified that some low-income homes use coping mechanisms such as running an open oven, using an open flame indoors, and leaving the home to go to heated public spaces instead of running the heat. Yet, existing research on thermal comfort among low-income homes fails to analyze the collective behaviors and conditions that motivate households to use alternative heating methods.

This case study focuses on 50 low-income renting households in a Cincinnati housing community.  Surveys and daily energy diaries will provide insights into residents’ spending tradeoffs, thermal comfort, and energy security perceptions. Further analysis of their energy use and indoor air quality monitor data will contribute to a longitudinal analysis of well-being and comfort.

The study aims to understand the tradeoffs households make between spending on energy and risking unsafe indoor conditions. It will examine baseline correlations between thermostat settings, thermal comfort, outdoor weather, and energy debt in low-income housing units. Logistic regression analysis will be used to identify factors that influence the adoption of alternative heating adoption. Additionally, repeated data collection rounds will be conducted to observe temporal changes in coping behaviors over the winter months.

This analysis will provide comprehensive insights into the factors influencing thermal comfort and energy use behaviors in low-income housing. By examining these correlations, the research will offer new perspectives on effective energy affordability interventions. For example, understanding when low-income households feel the need to use alternative heating methods will help identify conditions during which energy support programs can subsidize energy costs. In regions with extreme cold like Cincinnati, this work can strengthen the argument for equitable energy efficiency program benefits, especially for reducing heating costs. This research on equity in thermal comfort and energy use can enhance discussions on effective climate adaptation strategies and policies.

Author

• Kester Wade, Carnegie Mellon University
  Presenting Author