Energy Burden

The portion of a households’ income spent on energy.

Energy Costs Should not Dictate Quality of Life

Systemic racism and systems of oppression perpetuate inequities that impact the percentage of income households spend on energy costs. This ratio, known as energy burden, is significantly higher in climate-impacted communities. Households with higher energy burdens are more likely to stay in cycles of poverty.

Learning Resources

Learn about Energy Burden with Energy Allies!

ARTICLE

Grist

Black and Latino neighborhoods pay more for energy despite far lower emissions

Even though energy-efficient homes are more often found in white neighborhoods, carbon emissions from these neighborhoods are significantly higher than those in majority Latino and Black neighborhoods

RESEARCH

Department of Energy

Efficiency Can Help In All of Them

Income-eligible households typically have an energy burden three times higher than households with moderate to high incomes

RESEARCH

Hernández et. al

Housing hardship and energy insecurity among native-born and immigrant families in the U.S.

Energy insecurity manifests in three primary dimensions: economic, physical and behavioral

RESEARCH

Maxim and Grubert

Anticipating Climate-Related Changes to Residential Energy Burden in the United States

Choices on whether to spend limited money on food or heating are commonplace in these communities earning the nickname “heat or eat”

RESEARCH

Urban Institute

The Cost of Eviction and Unpaid Bills of Financially Insecure Families for City Budgets

The financial health of cities depends on financially secure residents.

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Energy Burden

Impacts of high energy burden

Households experiencing higher energy burdens are more likely to live in older, inefficient housing stock which may result in additional adverse health impacts. High energy burdens can also lead to negative mental health impacts due to uncertainty around heating and cooling costs.

The likelihood that energy insecure households’ energy bills will exceed their ability to pay is determined more by the weatherization and condition of their home than household income.

DW PLANET A

THE RICH

WRECK THE CLIMATE

DIVE INTO HOW THE 1% ARE DESTROYING OUR PLANET

1 in 3

U.S. households report difficulty paying their electricity bills

8.1%

The median household energy burden is 3.1%, however income-qualified communities experience energy burden as high as 8.1%

43%

Energy burden for Black and Latinx households is 43% higher than white households.

Energy burden can help to show which groups are being left out of energy-related policies and programs. High energy burden is considered greater than 6% of income spent on energy costs.

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Read blogs written by our inspiring young Fellows during their paid, part-time experiences with us and staff working to build resources for energy justice.

Energy Burden

The portion of a households’ income spent on energy.

Energy Costs Should not Dictate Quality of Life

Learning Resources

Learn about Energy Burden with Energy Allies!

ARTICLE

Even though energy-efficient homes are more often found in white neighborhoods, carbon emissions from these neighborhoods are significantly higher than those in majority Latino and Black neighborhoods

RESEARCH

Income-eligible households typically have an energy burden three times higher than households with moderate to high incomes

RESEARCH

Energy insecurity manifests in three primary dimensions: economic, physical and behavioral

RESEARCH

Choices on whether to spend limited money on food or heating are commonplace in these communities earning the nickname “heat or eat”

RESEARCH

The financial health of cities depends on financially secure residents.

More Resources

The likelihood that energy insecure households’ energy bills will exceed their ability to pay is determined more by the weatherization and condition of their home than household income.

DW PLANET A

THE RICH

WRECK THE CLIMATE

DIVE INTO HOW THE 1% ARE DESTROYING OUR PLANET

1 in 3

8.1%

43%

Our Blogs

8 Nonprofits Eliminating Racial Discrimination

Celebrating Black Women In Energy

Celebrating Lunar New Year with Microgrids in Chinatown

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Energy Burden

The portion of a households’ income spent on energy.

Energy Costs Should not Dictate Quality of Life

Learning Resources

Learn about Energy Burden with Energy Allies!

ARTICLE

Even though energy-efficient homes are more often found in white neighborhoods, carbon emissions from these neighborhoods are significantly higher than those in majority Latino and Black neighborhoods

RESEARCH

Income-eligible households typically have an energy burden three times higher than households with moderate to high incomes

RESEARCH

Energy insecurity manifests in three primary dimensions: economic, physical and behavioral

RESEARCH

Choices on whether to spend limited money on food or heating are commonplace in these communities earning the nickname “heat or eat”

RESEARCH

The financial health of cities depends on financially secure residents.

More Resources

The likelihood that energy insecure households’ energy bills will exceed their ability to pay is determined more by the weatherization and condition of their home than household income.

DW PLANET A

THE RICH

WRECK THE CLIMATE

DIVE INTO HOW THE 1% ARE DESTROYING OUR PLANET

1 in 3

8.1%

43%

Our Blogs

8 Nonprofits Eliminating Racial Discrimination

Celebrating Black Women In Energy

Celebrating Lunar New Year with Microgrids in Chinatown

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Email

Mailing Address