Energy-Efficient Upgrades in Urban Low-Income Multifamily Housing: Energy Burdens and Lessons Learned for Best Sustainability Practices

Details

• Journal Article:
  Sustainability
• Personal Author:
  Miller, Madeline W. ; Malh, Anchal ; Ketenci, Kaan Cem ; Sturla Irizarry, Savannah M. ; Vaishnav, Parth ; Rowe, Zachary E. ; Charles, Simone M. ; Gronlund, Carina J. ; Miller, Shelie A. ; O'Neill, Marie S.
• Description:
  Residents in low-income multifamily housing often struggle to afford energy for essential needs such as heating, cooking, and electronics. Climate change may increase these energy demands, and high energy bills can reflect inefficiencies in a home's systems or envelope. Improving the energy efficiency in low-income housing benefits both social justice and sustainability. However, there is limited information on the impact of energy upgrades in multifamily settings. This study examined the energy-related experiences of low-income families in public housing in Detroit, Michigan, who received energy-conserving measures (ECMs) such as efficient light bulbs, faucets, thermostats, and refrigerators in 2022. Thirty-nine residents completed surveys and provided energy usage data before and after the upgrades; twelve residents provided their hourly energy usage. Over 90% of residents reporting income information had an energy burden exceeding 6%, with higher energy expenses during colder months. While many residents appreciated the upgrades, quantitative evidence of reduced energy burdens was insufficient. Existing utility programs for multifamily residents typically offer minor upgrades but do not include larger appliance replacements or improvements to home insulation. To maximize energy efficiency for low-income families, thus promoting sustainability, more comprehensive programs and retrofits are necessary. Description provided by NIOSH
• Subjects:
  • Electricity
  • Occupational Health
  • Safety
• Keywords:
  • Community based
  • Electricity
  • Insulation materials
  • Seasonal factors
  • Costs
  • Sociodemographic factors
  • Heating equipment
  • Air conditioning equipment
  • Cooking equipment
  • Author Keywords: energy efficiency
  More +
• ISSN:
  2071-1050
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Chicago Region OSHA ; Michigan
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  23 pdf pages
• Volume:
  17
• Issue:
  12
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20071804
• Citation:
  Sustainability 2025 Jun; 17(12):5464
• Contact Point Address:
  Madeline W. Miller, School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
• Email:
  mademill@umich.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2025
• Performing Organization:
  University of California Los Angeles
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  2005/07/01
• End Date:
  2028/06/30
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/260028/cdc_260028_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 4.00 MB]
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:03ef01eaf50da549c2aceb6afae3be47b67c0adf52547f4523cce691095c9675337c9fb25bd042af6ad52d777969c914a66e51c11dd061ea0574a5eed6cb8585