In an article, How Detroit’s climate change activists are using science to plan for a warmer city, published on ModelD, Dr. Reames spoke with Nina Ignaczak about how energy poverty impacts climate change resiliency in vulnerable communities.
“It’s a justice issue,” Reames says. “People with higher energy burdens are less resilient to climate change because they have fewer resources to adapt to extreme temperatures.”
Reames proposes that programs designed to improve residential energy efficiency should target energy poor neighborhoods. He points to Kansas City’s “Green Impact Zone” programs which proactively funneled resources into weatherization and energy technology in low-income, high vulnerability neighborhoods.
“This can improve the resiliency of low-income neighborhoods while also creating training and jobs for the people in those neighborhoods,” he says.
urbanenergyjusticelab.com 