Low levels of CO are hard to quantify and link directly to health outcomes, but the risk of CO poisoning is completely eliminated when homes are powered by electricity. While CO detectors protect against lethal levels of CO, sublethal levels can go undetected creating health threats. Whether burning natural gas, coal, kerosene, propane or wood in a furnace, fireplace, dryer or stove, CO poses a risk. Homes using fossil fuels generate carbon monoxide (CO) from incomplete combustion, one example being stove pilot lights. Heat pump technology eliminates this disparity as air conditioning is generated through the same unit that generates heat.Īn electricity-powered home is safer and healthier because there is no combustion at all inside the home. Lifespan ran out of fans after giving away more than 600 in a single day. The urgent need for access to cool spaces was made clear through a recent box fan distribution for low income seniors. Higher crime rates, violence, less physical activity and health issues are associated with heat. Low-income households are less likely to have central A/C. Several communities in Monroe County qualify for this support, including neighborhoods in the city of Rochester that have high concentrations of poverty. It mandates at least 40% of the state’s energy funds (RGGI, Clean Energy Fund, etc.) are to be utilized to the direct benefit of low-to-moderate-income households and environmental justice communities. The recently passed NY Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act directs the state to identify the barriers to access to renewable energy resources and energy efficiency for low-to-moderate-income households and environmental justice communities and make recommendations to increase access. More efficient, carbon-free electricity powered homes can result in an increase in the affordability of basic needs, though policies and incentives will be necessary to transition lower-income households to modern, efficient electric technologies. A heat pump can lower winter heating costs for those who currently heat with oil, propane or electric resistance, and double as a cooling system in the summer. Because the majority of local emissions come from building heating systems and on-road vehicles, the focus of the campaign will be to encourage and support the transition of area organizations’ vehicles and buildings to technologies that are powered by carbon-free electricity, instead of fossil fuels.Ĭlimate change disproportionately affects people living in poverty through higher financial energy burden and greater vulnerability during extreme weather events.įor very low-income households in New York State, the average energy burden is 19.4% of household income, as compared to 6.4% for moderate-income households. This campaign is promoting the use of carbon-free electricity to meet our energy needs. Climate change poses numerous harms and risks to our community, including (but not limited to) the increased frequency and severity of extreme weather events, food insecurity, the spread of vector-borne diseases, poor indoor and outdoor air quality, toxic algae blooms, and damage to both private and public property. The overarching goal of this initiative is to mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon pollution caused by burning fossil fuels.
About the Project Since May 2019, a partnership of 20+ prestigious local institutions representing over 10 sectors have been working to develop an initiative, focused on promoting beneficial electrification throughout the nine-county Genesee/Finger Lakes region.