1. Energy Efficiency and Equity in New Haven
Annie Harper, Connecticut Mental Health Center Financial Health Project

2. Context Poverty: ¼ of New Haven residents live in deep poverty
Almost ½ live in poverty
2/3 live below amount needed given cost of living
Inequality:
6th most unequal city in the country, inequality has grown faster here since 2008 than any other US city
Housing:
39% of units are 2-4 units, 30% are >5 units, 20% are single family
70% of people rent – mostly in 2-4 unit buildings or larger.

3. Energy Burden
Affordability gap – 46% of NH residents face $1,500 shortfall in paying energy costs.
High rate of disconnections – living without light, heat, air-conditioning, hot water, cooking….
People cut back to be able to afford energy costs – food, educational supplies, live in uncomfortable and even unhealthy cold/hot homes.
Significant impact on physical and mental health, educational attainment etc.
Drain on public funds (costs of addressing health problems, and cost of programs that help – LIHEAP, matching payment programs etc.)

4. HES-IE performance (2013)
Bridgeport got TWICE as much investment as New Haven (BP 2,333 audits, 4.6% homes served, NH 1095 audits, 2.2% of homes served).
2-4 unit homes neglected:
Property Type
% reached
% in New Haven
Single family
48%
20%
2-4 Unit
12%
39%
> 4 Unit
40%
30%

5. Tract level performance
Edgewood (tract 1409)
The Hill (tract 1405)
Newhallville (tract 1415)
Single family homes in tract 9%
18%
22%
% of homes served by HES-IE
92%
79%
67%

6. Barriers? Mistrust Bandwidth – dealing with what’s in front of me
Scheduling with unpredictable lives
Landlords don’t pay bills
Renters less invested, don’t want to rock the boat
Fear of code violation discovery
Health and safety barriers – asbestos, gas/CO, mold etc.

7. Solutions? Better data and transparency – know the problem
Simplified application, default process (eg; rental inspection, building permit, house sale)
Coordinating response when something goes wrong – responsibility for follow up (vendors have little incentive)
$ for Health and Safety