Hotter Days Ahead

Mila K. Marshall, PH.D. Staff Editor

While deadly summer heat looms across the Chicagoland area reflections of the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave rise. What has Black Chicago learned in the nearly two decades that have passed? How prepared are our communities for increased temperatures? What access do we have to financial tools and resources to protect our homes and health? Black bodies continue to suffer disproportionately from the impacts of poor air quality, as well as increased energy costs. Extreme heat events are harmful and continue to be a barrier to both the health of Black communities and economic development. Increased temperatures can result in a number of heat related illnesses such as heat exhaustion, heat stroke and heat cramps. The elderly, pregnant, houseless, and people with pre-existing conditions are just a few of the most vulnerable populations. What is clear is that climate change is expensive and threatens to widen the gap between the haves and the have nots. Homeowners, developers, and property management firms are uniquely situated in the energy conversation. Residents and ratepayers feel the burn of increased energy costs. Low-income homeowners of color have been shown to spend a greater percentage of income on energy costs. Older homes with poor insulation as well as inefficient and outdated air conditioning units contribute to greater energy usage. A 2020 report published by the American Council of Energy Efficient Economies identified African Americans spend 43% more of their income on energy compared to whites with Hispanics spending 20% and Native Americans 45% more. Expensive energy results in less resources to pay other bills and hinders the growth of local econo- mies. Low-income homeowners are at a loss when it comes to retrofitting properties due to costs. The average investment to insulate a 2,000 square foot property can cost between $3,000-$10,000.

Solar panels and renewable energy have been pitched for low-income communities, yet older homes with poor infrastructure or designs that don’t align with installation compliance inhibit solar solutions. All solutions require capital. Yet, access to loans is challenging for people with lower incomes and less wealth. Clean energy programs have evolved to address the lack of access to capital unavailable through the traditional banking sector to fill this particular gap. The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) is one such program that “helps low income residents and households conserve fuel and energy costs by making their homes and apartments more energy efficient.” Participants must meet the financial eligibility to access services which can be found on the website of the Office of Community Assistance of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website.

Services the program covers includes:

• Air sealing

• Attic and wall insulation

• HVAC repair or replacement

• Water heater repair or replacement

• Electric base load reduction (lighting and refrigerator replacement)

• Ventilation and moisture control measures (and other health and safety measures)

• Maximum $16,000 per eligible client’s home for energy-related weatherization and repair work

• Maximum $3,500 for health and safety related measures

The time to work collaboratively to address climate change has long since arrived. Black Chicago must prioritize the protection of the efforts and investments through a climate change and environmental equity lens. As the summer presses on and weather related events come and go our communal wealth is continually compromised. Back to back weather events are destabilizing. The hotter days ahead…we can’t be cool with energy inequity or threats to the work to revitalize Black communities.

By Mila K. Marshall, PhD, CNW Cannabis Corner Editor