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.

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.

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. 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

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Collaboration

The URI Cooperative Extension Energy Literacy Initiative (CEELI) works with strategic partners to improve access to information for consumers, professionals and policymakers, most recently around energy efficiency for the home, for all. A recent focus of this work has been to strengthen the relationship between the University and organizations working with communities to improve quality of life; this effort has led to collaboration with the RI Health Equity Zone Initiative (HEZ). In a short period of time, with support from HEZ leadership, URI has built relationships a new community of partners, including public health experts, community-based Comprehensive Action Agencies and HEZ workers who interact directly with our most vulnerable Rhode Islanders regularly, and most importantly, with those who live in the communities that are traditionally underserved. Through this ongoing funded partnership with the RI Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), awareness of the inextricable links between public health and home energy efficiency are increasing.

Project Team

The Cooperative Extension Energy Literacy Initiative (CEELI) team is composed of Extension staff and students with varied backgrounds and expertise in facilitation and education. The 2025 team is composed of Nina Lima, a junior studying Economics and serving as the Feinstein Energy Literacy Fellow, Nina Lima, as well as two Extension staff members, Kate Hardesty and Kevin Drumm (pictured l-r).