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A resolution supporting efforts to assist limited-income families with home energy retrofits.
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WHEREAS, according to a recent study published on the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, the stay-in-place orders due to the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a significant increase in home energy bills, which is likely to continue with a similar pattern of at least a 20% increase; and
WHEREAS, despite comparatively low electricity rates, Nashville faces the challenge that approximately 16.5% of its residents live in poverty; and
WHEREAS, rates of poverty coincide with poorly-weatherized housing stock; and poorly-weatherized homes prevent older residents from aging in place, making them more susceptible to predatory homebuyers; and
WHEREAS, the cost burden of energy-inefficient homes falls particularly heavily upon vulnerable citizens, contributing to decreased educational achievement, financial instability, and pervasive cycles of poverty; and
WHEREAS, the energy burden from the combination of poverty, poorly-weatherized and aging housing stock is a significant impediment to equity and livability in Nashville; and
WHEREAS, high energy burdens and substandard housing stock also contribute to mental and physical health challenges, particularly among children and the elderly, contributing to Nashville's rates of respiratory illness such as asthma and other endemic health conditions; and
WHEREAS, households in the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) footprint earning less than 50% of the federal poverty level are spending an average of 29% of their income on utilities when income expenditure of 6% is considered affordable; and
WHEREAS, NES and TVA have committed initial seed funding to a Home Energy Uplift program, which provides whole-home energy improvements to limited-income families who own homes in Davidson County; and
WHEREAS, a utility bill round-up program (which allows customers to round-up their monthly utility bills to the next whole dollar, w...
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