In Georgia, many low- to moderate-income households face disproportionate energy burdens. Energy burdens are measured by the percentage of total household income spent on household electricity bills.
In rural communities, the average energy burden carried by low-income households often exceeds 20 or 30 percent of their household income. According to research in “A Call to Action: Analyzing Rural Energy Burdens in Georgia” by Dr. Elvis Moleka, “The average energy burden for Georgia households living at 50% of the Federal Poverty Level is 30%, which is five times more than Georgia households earning $55,500 (or 200% of the Federal Poverty Level) or more per year” (Moleka, 2022). The analysis also found that “Rural counties across Georgia carry the heaviest energy burdens across income brackets, driven by rural poverty, unemployment, and the prevalence of older, single-family rental housing” (Moleka, 2022).
This disparity is largely due to a lack of investment in housing preservation and repair within low-income rural communities. In rural areas, it is not uncommon to find houses built in the 1940s-50s that haven’t had significant renovations or upgrades since their construction. For families living in these homes, the cost of utilities skyrockets over time due to poor insulation, inefficient heating and air conditioning units, and poor ventilation.
In March 2023, Groundswell, in partnership with West Georgia Star, invited the White House Council on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to visit one of the homes in Troup County to see the impact of energy-efficient upgrades. During this visit, the USDA announced a $575,000 housing preservation grant that supported housing repairs that address critical health and safety hazards while reducing household energy burdens for at least 22 families.
Investments like this make all the difference in rural communities. Prioritizing healthy homes leads to thriving communities. Everyone deserves a safe and comfortable home, and Groundswell’s Save On Utilities Long term (SOUL) program is making that a reality for many families in Georgia. Each household’s needs are different, and SOUL develops individualized plans focused on improvements that will make the most significant difference in each home.
One example is the home of Troup County resident Hollis Strong, where the home visit and grant announcement took place. Strong has lived in his home in Troup County, Georgia, for more than 20 years and has experienced high utility bills for a large portion of that time. Energy-efficiency improvements provided by the SOUL™ program helped Strong reduce his utility bills and increase the comfort of his home for himself and his family. Through the SOUL program, Groundswell is making reparative upgrades to rural households, lowering energy bills, and preserving housing quality for generations to come.