Executive Summary:

Health and safety problems often cause barriers that prevent full weatherization from being completed in homes that could otherwise achieve significant energy savings. Common health and safety barriers include elevated CO levels or gas leaks, mold, friable asbestos, vermiculate insulation that may contain asbestos, and knob and tube wiring. The Health and Safety Barriers to Weatherization Study aimed to evaluate the scale and nature of these problems in Connecticut, assess where they are most likely to occur, determine whether data about these problems is being effectively collected and tracked, and what might be some strategies for minimizing health and safety barriers to weatherization.

Based on a review of existing studies carried out in Connecticut, interviews with key stakeholders, and a detailed qualitative and quantitative survey
administered to vendors working for EnergizeCT in United Illuminating’s service territory, the main findings of this study are …

Efficiency is efficient.

April 7th, 2020

Engage + Educate + Advocate + Collaborate + Innovate
= Positive Equitable Energy Policy Outcomes

The Spin on Energy ……

Many of us are focused on “Climate talk”, “Carbon Talk”, “Clean Energy”,
“Green Energy” , EV policy, EV infrastructure build outs, Wind, Solar,
Geothermal, Transportation, workforce, Ratepayer Funds, Green Bank
Programs, Outreach needs, highest carbon emitters, where to start, who
should pay for all of what we want as goals, who should be allowed to use
incentives, who can’t use the incentives and programs, what they can be used for, cost effective testing, what is the best plan to lower carbon, protect health, mitigate climate change, grow our economy, lower energy burdens, close affordability gaps, protect water and air, educate people, ensure Equity for all, and what steps we need to take this year to lay the foundation for our success. Because without a plan a goal is just a wish…..

Equity starts by recognizing that there are disparities and inequities in living conditions. Some communities lack resources, lack political power, lack access to higher education, or have poor health outcomes. These examples place low-income communities and many communities of color at greater risk while limiting their capacity to adapt.

Equity based Planning takes these disparities into account.

Educate. Motivate. Unite on Climate Action!

Calling All Climate Action Seekers, Defenders of the Planet, and Those Who Value Energy Efficiency, Conservation, Clean Energy, Economic Growth, Environmental Advocacy, Human Health, Clean Public Transportation Local Green Jobs, Healthy and Affordable Housing, and Water as a Public Right!

Stand With Us

Sunday, April 14th @ 1pm
Hartford State Capitol

We are STANDING UP FOR CLIMATE & ENERGY EQUITY as part of our collaborative call for responsible energy policies to fight climate change, protect public health, and create good, local jobs!

We Are Calling on Our Elected Leaders to:

• Stop diverting Energy Efficiency & Clean Energy funds.
• Ensure equal access to efficiency & clean energy programs
• Lower energy waste and pollution.
• Close the affordability gap & invest in a clean energy future.
• Expand programs that cut waste & lower carbon emissions.

Policy Goals

• Restore & expand our energy efficiency & renewable energy programs and create a path for increased energy equity.
• Ensure all programs have an equity lens, including transportation.
• Include underrepresented communities at the table & empower them with information.

Efficiency. Environment. Economy. Employment. Equity. Education. Reliable, Resilient, & Safe Energy for All!

Sunday, April 14th @ 1pm
Hartford State Capitol

Educate. Motivate. Unite. Take Action.

The Time is Now!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

Below, please find the bills that we could use your support on at the Capitol.

Please write letters in support of these bills.

Call your representatives and ask them to have these bills called on committee.

If you are at the Capitol please speak to your representative or senators about energy efficiency.

• Efficiency is Efficient.
• Conservation is conservative.
• Using less leaves us with more and there is enough for everyone.

Help support Connecticut residents and the planet!

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Bills

HJ 31
Resolution Proposing A State Constitutional Amendment Prohibiting The Diversion Of Funds For Energy Efficiency And Clean Energy Programs To The General Fund.
To prohibit the diversion of funds for energy efficiency and clean energy programs to the General Fund.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (136); Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (136)
Committee(s): Finance, Revenue and Bonding

*Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (1/23)

HB 5030
An Act Restoring Energy Efficiency And Clean Energy Funds.
To restore moneys in the state budget of energy efficiency and clean energy program funds.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Joseph P. Gresko (121); Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (136)
Committee(s): Finance, Revenue and Bonding

*Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (1/9)

HB 5409
An Act Prohibiting The Diversion Of Funds For Energy Efficiency Programs.
To prohibit the diversion of funds for energy efficiency programs.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Laura M. Devlin (134)
Committee(s): Finance, Revenue and Bonding

*Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (1/16)

HB 5804
An Act Restoring Ratepayer Energy Efficiency And Clean Energy Program Funds.
To restore moneys in the state budget of energy efficiency and clean energy program funds.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Jonathan Steinberg (136)
Committee(s): Finance, Revenue and Bonding

*Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue and Bonding (1/23)

HB 6453
An Act Concerning The Protection And Accountability Of Energy Efficiency Funds.
To restore and protect the purposes of the three clean energy funds while adding legislative oversight of such funds.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Mary M. Mushinsky (85)
Committee(s): Environment

*Current status: Referred to Joint Committee on Environment (1/28)

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Let your voice be heard.

Thank you standing up for Connecticut and it’s residents!

Sincerely,

Efficiency For All

Connecticut’s Home Energy Affordability Gap increased in 2017 relative to the prior year. As has been true for several years, home energy costs continue to pose a crushing burden to low- income residents of the state. Particularly for households with incomes in “Deep Poverty,” home energy
costs threaten not only the ability of Connecticut households to retain access to energy services, but also threaten access to housing, food, medical care and other necessities of life. The Home Energy Affordability Gap in Connecticut leaves an aggregate Gap substantially higher than available assistance resources. The size of the Affordability Gap indicates the extent of the home energy affordability crisis in Connecticut.

Home energy unaffordability in Connecticut is a statewide phenomenon. It affects areas of the state both rural and urban. It affects areas of the state both North and South, both East and West. The discussion below continues a series of annual reports examining home energy affordability in Connecticut. The Home Energy Affordability Gap measures the dollar amount by which actual home energy bills exceed affordable home energy bills. In this respect, “affordability” is examined in terms of home energy burdens, bills as a percentage of income. For example, if a Connecticut household has an annual income of $12,000 and an annual home energy bill of $3,000, that household has a home energy burden of 25% ($3,000 / $12,000 = 0.25). An affordable home energy burden is set at 6%.¹

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¹ The 6% is a calculated figure. It is based on the premise that utility costs should not exceed 20% of shelter costs. Moreover, it is based on the premise that total shelter costs should not exceed 30% of income. 20% of 30% yields a affordable utility burden.

To learn more about the affordability gap in Connecticut, please find the full report here, or contact:

Operation Fuel, Inc.

75 Charter Oak Avenue, Suite 2-240
Hartford, CT, 06106

• P. (860) 243-2345

January 12th, 2019

Connecticut Energy Leaders, Task Force Advocates, and community members came together to collaborate around equity, affordability, the environment, and human health.

Presentations from the event are available below:

Faces & Facts of Energy Efficiency – The Unsung Story of a Champion Presentation will be available shortly.

Support our work. Please donate:

To request an event or seminar at your location email us at:

contactus@efficiencyforall.org, or call us at 860-337-2239

I. The state must ensure the Conservation Load Management Plan (C&LM) programs have stable and sufficient funding to meet the energy and carbon mitigation goals and targets.  

• #1: Stop the pending June 2019 diversion of the C&LM funds & settle the litigation.
• How to HELP! Meet with your legislators and let them know we want our ratepayer C&LM dollars back! Letters to Legislators calling for protection of the “C&LM Ratepayer funds”.
• Data Point: Reducing energy waste through energy efficiency and thermal upgrades lowers our peak demand making it easier to reach our renewable energy and carbon reduction goals, while simultaneously lowering the energy burdens on Connecticut ratepayers. “Reduce waste before you invest in producing more energy.”  Diverting EE funds just doesn’t make Cents, learn more: Long Term EE Impacts Facts  and Diversion impact facts

II. Protect what works: Legislatively strengthen our policies and laws to protect the ratepayer funded C&LM programs. Our leaders must act to protect the ratepayer funds and ensure that they are contractually restricted for their intended purposes.  These funds were collected to support Energy Efficiency and renewable energy incentives or products and services that reduce the use of fossil fuel and have a minimum 1 to 1 Return on Investment for Connecticut ratepayers.  The C&LM programs offered today have a 1 to 7 ROI . Act 11- 80 & 12-45m are laws to lower our dependency on fossil fuels, and lower carbon emissions through demand reduction. The C&LM & CES & GC3 are the state energy plans.

III: Ensure equal access to energy efficiency programs and incentives for ALL electric ratepayers

• Ratepayers should not be denied equal access to state programs or incentives , which effectively lower energy waste and lower Connecticut’s energy demand and carbon emissions.  Regardless of heating fuel type, electric ratepayers pay into the C&LM fund which was created specifically to lower energy waste and our energy demand in CT.  45% of CT households use delivery fuels, oil and propane.
• Ensure Equity: Low to median income (LMI) households Do NOT have equal access to all cost effective efficiency services. (*Oil or Propane LMI). We are not properly counting the benefits vs costs of serving households which heat with deliverable fuels as they align with current policy goals.
• We must Expand the innovative C&LM programs and offer ALL cost effective efficiency measures which lower demand, carbon emissions, and lower LMI energy burdens, while protecting health.

IV. Energy and Climate Education for all people in Connecticut.   Many underrepresented communities and underrepresented populations do not have access to important energy and climate education materials.  

• Programs must include strategies for outreach to empower and educate Connecticut’s residents, towns, and businesses with information they need to make educated energy choices, to mitigate energy waste, air pollution, carbon emissions, and to improve their health and living conditions.  

• Ensure all Connecticut households and youth have access to conservation based actions and steps they can take at home and work. (*strategies beyond websites or emails “to meet people where they are at.”)
• The state should ensure all communities, towns, residents are aware of the programs they can access to help them lower energy burdens, and protect human health and our environment.  
• Ratepayers should be provided annual quantitative and qualitative information about program achievements which benefit ratepayers. This will aid in educating on the value of efficiency and encourage further participation in state mandated energy policy goals and programs.

V. Oppose: Attempts to stifle C&LM ratepayer incentive programs: C&LM programs serve the ratepayers and directly lower ratepayer energy waste while lowering their energy expenses in homes and business.  These programs lower our state energy demand overall. Ensure that we do NOT replace the successful C&LM Home Energy Solutions and LMI programs with “financing only programs”.

• Ratepayers should have equal access to programs and incentives that are supported by a charge on their bills, and will help them lower energy waste, lower energy burdens, lower our dependence on carbon heavy fossil fuels, and access a clean energy future.  

• THE CT GREEN BANK offers Finance programs, which are also supported by charge on ratepayer bills. They offer loans which are called “products, programs, or services”. The Green Bank loans are leveraged using ratepayer funds, collected from the charges on electric bills, RGGI funds, and grants. When coupled with the innovative and successful CL&M programs, financing is an important piece of the plan to help the ratepayers install upgrades.

• Efficiency For All is a non-profit 501(c)(3) energy efficiency advocacy group.  Our goals are to educate the public and our legislature on the importance and benefits of sound, sustainable energy efficiency policy.  EFA is a stakeholder association which works to keep stakeholders informed, collect and reflect energy-related data, advocate for the stabilization and the continued development of local and national energy efficiency programs which protect human health, provide local jobs, increase positive economic outcomes, and reduce long-term energy costs.  Our work supports clean energy policy, green economies, and a cleaner environment.     

Thank you for everything you do to engage in protecting our environment, energy stability, accessibility, affordability, ratepayer rights, equity, and human health in our state and beyond.