Fossil fuels will become more expensive as resources dwindle, and many people are already struggling to pay their energy bills. At the same time, the shift to renewable sources such as wind and solar is happening at a rapid pace as climate change takes its toll.
Those hardest hit by rising energy costs are the poorest communities and countries, which is why assistance to the poor must be available during this energy transition so that financial pressures do not collide with social responsibility.
As it stands, many families are giving up food, medicine and other necessities to feed their homes. Giving them as much assistance as possible is a step towards energy justice.
Some companies already offer low-income energy assistance programs to low-income communities, which can improve their quality of life. Reducing energy poverty in this way could also help towards greater social inclusion.
However, the implementation of renewable energies must be done in a sustainable way for the effort to have more significant impacts.
Renewables need government support
Local and national governments will need to work together to mitigate the economic and environmental costs of energy for low-income households. Community solar programs, shared among many subscribers, can lessen this burden, for example. Greater cooperation between communities and governments can also set precedents for engaging in widespread positive change for the planet.
Development is also critical as many older buildings are not optimized to meet current environmental standards for energy efficiency. Renewable energy will allow families to save money by spending less on more expensive fuels like propane and buying fewer additional materials to make up for poor insulation.
Low-income assistance could help transform these homes to be more efficient. Giving older buildings a new lease of life with renewable energy can also help other facets of construction that may not meet green standards, such as better indoor air quality and better overall physical health.
Environmental, health and social impacts
Families may experience less respiratory diseases with less indoor pollution. Having the lights on could also better protect homes and their residents at night. When older buildings begin to receive these upgrades, they will increase property values in their communities, thus closing social and economic gaps such as income inequality.
State and local programs in the US can reduce bills by more than 80% for some homes, regardless of the age of the buildings. This would also reduce the carbon footprint of energy-inefficient homes. These programs can also inspire more companies to reduce their ecological footprint.
Several countries around the world have recognized the global impacts of making local changes. Smaller nations like Morocco and powers like India have realized the importance of providing people with renewable energy.
It is important to emphasize that access to renewable energy should not be restricted by income, as the implementation of these programs benefits everyone in the end.
By Jane Marsh. Article in English
