URI-CoopExt+CELS-2025_Energy-Literacy–Web

Rhode Island’s electricity costs (~28 cents/kWh) are significantly higher than the national average (~18 cents/kWh), often ranking among the most expensive states and driven by reliance on natural gas, higher demand, and infrastructure costs. One key strategy to reduce energy bills is to make RI’s homes more energy

efficient through weatherization, yet many RI residents are not taking advantage of the no cost or low-cost upgrades available to them. The URI Cooperative Extension Energy Literacy Initiative (CEELI), with support from the RI Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), established the “Efficient Housing for All” Community of Practice (EHACoP) to function as a venue for issue identification and analysis, idea exchange, and solution development related to nonparticipation in income eligible services for home energy efficiency. The effort was validated by multiple governmental organizations working adjacently to elevate solutions to prevalent energy equity-related issues in RI.

High Energy Burden and Poor Health

According to the Energy Justice Institute, when families can’t afford adequate heating or cooling, they face increased risks of temperature-related illness or even death. Poor indoor air quality from inadequate ventilation and the use of hazardous heating methods (like using ovens for heat) can trigger or exacerbate respiratory conditions. The link between energy insecurity and adverse mental, respiratory and child health is well documented. In Rhode Island, many families face a “heat or eat” dilemma, and must choose between paying their utility bills and paying for food, medicine or healthcare.

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Energy efficiency through home weatherization presents an opportunity to address these health disparities and decrease energy burden for families. In 2023, researchers projected several energy efficiency and conservation scenarios, demonstrating the long-term impacts of household energy use on health and climate outcomes. In an effort to ensure that Rhode Island achieves the optimal health and climate scenario, the EHACoP engaged two key groups –

1. community-based workers at the intersection of environmental and human health; and

2. Rhode Island residents with a high energy burden. The EHACoP provided information about energy efficiency and how it relates to health outcomes to participants, and worked through scenarios to collect feedback that generated community-informed takeaways and recommendations for energy efficiency program improvements in Rhode Island. Participants were incentivized to participate, earning gift cards and a Certificate of Participation for attending three or more of the six sessions.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The Efficient Housing for All Community of Practice highlighted the importance of a systems change approach. Increased participation requires a combination of both structural and relational changes in the energy efficiency policy and engagement landscape

Include systems change model: Slide 1 of EHACoP Webpage Updates – Graphics

Community-based workers are the key to comprehensive, transformational change around issues that impact social determinants of health if they are empowered to incorporate energy efficiency as a tool for improving conditions in the home

Include train-the-trainer graphic: Slide 2 of EHACoP Webpage Updates – Graphics

RECOMMENDATIONS:

  1. Implement structural changes to reduce participant hesitancy / disengagement, including:
    • Simplified program enrollment with single sign-up process
    • Institutionalized follow-up procedures to ensure everyone receives the same level of info and support after their assessment
    • Securing additional funding to address pre-weatherization barriers
    • Required cultural competence training for program providers to ensure that they are prepared to communicate across language and cultural barriers
    • Institutionalized feedback loops to ensure iterative structural change
  2. Educate and engage trusted community-based workers to gather feedback and support ratepayers through weatherization process by:
    • Identifying opportunities for additional structural and relational changes through Community Action Partnership focus groups
    • Improving relationships and connections through authentic partnerships with local organizations in trusted spaces
    • Empowering community-based workers through Energy Navigator Training
    • Implementing the RI Energy Efficiency Roadmap as a practice guide to support “Energy Navigators”

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