Creating Energy Resilient and Healthy Homes

Low- and moderate-income residents are shorted safe, healthy, energy efficient, and affordable housing options due to the lack of quality, affordable housing for these families. Programs intended to alleviate energy and housing burdens do not reach the communities in need and often do not have all the funds necessary.

The Empowerment Grant Program powered by the Energy Equity Fund seeks to educate and advocate for the social determinate of housing and health. We will form a collaborative approach to addressing those in Delaware whose health has been impacted by the quality of their home. The next step is making those corrections and studying the impact these home interventions have on health outcomes.

We seek engagement of the health care systems, public health officials, and the housing community to address one of the social determinates – housing – coupled with access to healthcare, economic stability, education access, and social connectivity.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND REPAIRS CAN REDUCE MEDICAL COSTS

Inadequate housing contributes to health problems such as chronic diseases and injuries and can have harmful impacts on childhood development, seniors, and adults. Poor indoor air quality, lead paint, and other hazards often coexist in homes, placing children and families at great risk for multiple health problems.

The Empowerment Grant seeks to educate and advocate for the social determinate of housing and health.

A CALL TO ACTION AND SOLUTIONS

A goal of new eciency programs aims to reach low- income and hard-to-reach customers. This can be dicult when the cost-effectiveness of these residential programs is challenged by a changing market. The health care industry is taking part in a value-based structure that recognizes how the social determinants of health (SDOH) affect health outcomes.

The Empowerment Grant Program will:

  • Design programs to meet the needs of highly burdened communities.
  • Engage communities in advocacy around healthy homes and energy efficiency.
  • Improve program design, delivery and evaluation through best practices and community engagement.

WE ARE CLEAN, EFFICIENT, AFFORDABLE, & SUSTAINABLE
ENERGY AS A TOOL FOR IMPACT

Through aligned strategies and investments, we can positively impact the socio-economic position of thousands of Delawareans and
promote climate resiliency. Through partnership, collaboration and dialogue the Empowerment Program will focus on:

Energy Resilient
and Healthy Homes

Access to Clean and
Renewable Energy

Create and Sustain
Clean Energy Jobs

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Carbon Reduction and
Climate Resiliency

Healthy and Safe
Population

Social and Economic
Development

AREAS OF FOCUS

  • Reach more participants and provide more extensive services.
  • Increase participation in weatherization and residential retrofit programs.
  • Improve the quality of life of low-moderate income households and communities.
  • Improve health outcomes and reduce health care utilization rates and costs.
  • Unlock new health-related funding streams to leverage utility ratepayer dollars for increase and improved program outcomes