Social inequality in energy use

A study explores racial and income disparities in energy use intensity. Data on social inequality in urban energy use can guide the equitable distribution of energy-related investments, including energy efficiency rebates. Previous analyses revealed a 25% income disparity in household energy-use intensity by floor area (EUI) in Los Angeles, California, but data on racial disparities in EUI and energy-use inequalities at fine spatial scales within cities is lacking. Anu Ramaswami and colleagues analyzed fine-scale energy use data for all 200,000 households in Tallahassee, Florida and St. Paul, Minnesota. Block groups at the lowest income quintile have 27% higher EUI than those at the highest income quintile in St. Paul. However, the income disparity in EUI is 66% in Tallahassee. For the lowest income level in St. Paul, block groups with more than 75% non-White residents have 40% higher annual EUI than those with more than 55% White residents. When focusing on seasonal, temperature-sensitive EUI, such as for heating or cooling homes, the income disparity is as high as 167% in St. Paul, whereas the racial disparity is as high as 156% for the lowest income level in Tallahassee. According to the authors, the findings could inform equitable investments in energy conservation and efficiency.

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Article #20-23554: "Measuring social equity in urban energy use and interventions using fine-scale data," by Kangkang Tong et al.

MEDIA CONTACT: Anu Ramaswami, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ; tel: 609-258-3729; email: <anu.ramaswami@princeton.edu>