higher utility bills ARE putTING affordable housing out of reach.

Geographic location can determine energy usage trends. Different neighborhoods in Louisville may have different energy usage, which can be determined by many factors. First, the density of the immediate area, can determine the base rate for energy usage. Higher density areas usually have higher usage, especially after work when everyone is home and cooking, watching TV, using the computer, etc. Higher density areas also have different climate – typically, high density areas have a lower amount of tree canopy and shade, creating an “urban heat island effect” where inner city temperatures are higher than outlying areas. With the increased temperature, we crank up our AC and thus our energy bills. Redlining, a discriminatory practice from the 1930’s still felt today, can also affect our energy usage. Redlined neighborhoods typically have older homes which are harder to heat and cool, and costs more to maintain.

The characteristics of our housing can also affect our energy usage. The majority of homes in Louisville were built before 1960. Older homes take more energy to heat and cool, are prone to leaks and water damage, and have poor insulation. Our building envelope, the physical separation between the inside of our home from the outside, can break down over time, causing energy usage to increase to keep up with inside demand. Protecting our building envelope is an important step in lowering our energy costs.

Our socioeconomic situation can also affect our energy costs. The percentage of homes living in multi-family units, high percentages of BIPOC communities, and elderly and non elderly households with a disability are concentrated in West Louisville, especially in redlined neighborhoods. Low-income areas are more likely to have higher energy costs due to geographic location and housing characteristics. On average, energy burdened households have a 175–200% chance of remaining in poverty for a longer period of time. It is up to us to break this cycle.

Energy prices and policies are important in considering our energy costs. There are many policies and programs that are working towards lowering the energy burden that so many Kentuckians face. Over the years, we have seen our bills increase when usage stays the same. It is important to understand energy policies and bills that may negatively or positively affect us. This is where Everyhome comes in – we provide information and education on energy bills and policies so that every Louisvillian is informed to make crucial decisions.

As of 2020, utility bill payment assistance is the largest source of funding for low-income energy programs (Brown, et al, 2020)

• As of Dec 2022, there were approximately 42,000 electric and 2,000 gas disconnections in Louisville
• Disconnections affect the health and safety of consumers, and put renters at risk of being evicted