Climate Action United States Project #10973

Engaging with Congress on Climate Change Solutions

by Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI)

Engaging with Congress on Climate Change Solutions

Project Report | Nov 13, 2019
You're advancing energy efficiency! Thanks!

By Susan Williams | Director of Development

woman in front of her home (M. Shiereck/Unsplash)

You care about making a difference! Climate change affects everyone, but low-income families are especially susceptible.

With your support, EESI recently held a briefing with the Energy Efficiency for All (EEFA) coalition to show how federal energy assistance programs reduce energy waste and increase quality of life in affordable multi-family housing.

You’re helping to make sure federal efficiency programs are available to all who need them!

That is critical because one fourth of all households and two-thirds of low-income households live with energy bills that are 30% or more of their income. That makes it so hard to pay for other necessities such as food and medicine!

For example,Dave Rinebolt, Executive Director of the Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, emphasized how critical the Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program is for communities. The program pays for basic energy efficiency upgrades such as insulation, and HVAC systems, so a household’s energy bills are lower and their homes are more comfortable and healthy!

The Weatherization Assistance Program provides no-cost help to all 50 states and the District of Columbia, providing a basic safeguard for our nation’s most vulnerable residents--but it is severely underfunded. Nearly all 50 states have a waiting list for weatherization assistance--more people need help!

Yet the benefits of energy efficiency are huge: energy efficiency upgrades also improve indoor air quality, which leads to better health for residents, especially children with asthma and those with allergies. When people pay too much of their income on utilities, they have a tougher time climbing out of poverty.

The panelists offered hope: Policymakers can improve the lives of millions by coordinating federal energy assistance programs, investing in renewable energy, and reaching out to communities of color, who have been disproportionately affected by poor-quality housing and high energy bills.

You are also a source of hope! Your support is what makes these public discussions and follow up possible. You are showing the way to win-win climate solutions that work on the ground and for those who need it the most.

Your generosity allows for hard-hitting briefings that call attention to critical federal energy and climate programs.

Donate today! Thank you for all you do.

EESI's briefing panel on energy efficiency

Every kid needs a healthy home (Habeshaw/Unsplash)

Insulation saves energy (Charles PH/Unsplash)

Links:

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Aug 6, 2019
Life-Changing Summer at EESI - An Intern's Story

By Danielle Calacino | Development and Policy Intern

Danielle Summer 2019 Development and Policy Intern

This summer, EESI had five fantastic interns, who all brought so much to our office. YOU helped to make these opportunities possible, and for our work to expand with these young, creative minds.

One of our development and policy interns, Danielle (pictured above), recaps her experience below:

“Working for the Environmental and Energy Study Institute this summer has been such a life-changing experience. I came into this internship with excitement to learn more about environmental issues and what happens behind the scenes of a successful nonprofit. I am leaving with so many new ideas, friends, and a greater responsibility to better the planet. I have had the opportunity to contribute to grant proposals and reports, attend our briefings and our 2019 Clean Energy EXPO on Capitol Hill, and contact donors!

My first day was unlike any other, but in the best way. I was immediately greeted with the utmost kindness by everyone in the office, and was able to attend one of our briefings and sit in on a conference call. I knew I would learn so much over the summer and was so excited to jump right in! A favorite moment from that day was how the speakers at the briefing acknowledged my hard work, and were surprised when I mentioned it was my first day on the job. My confidence in myself grew that day, and I have continued to learn more about myself and my abilities this summer.

Another favorite moment from this summer was discovering we have a monthly donor from my hometown! I reached out and wrote a postcard to this donor and, happily, I received an excited response in return; this donor was amazed to hear that someone from his hometown was at EESI (far from home--I’m from Utah!). Making those connections and showing that EESI is an organization run by people who are dedicated to furthering climate solutions has been such a fulfilling task this summer.

Thank you to all of our amazing donors who help make these experiences happen for young adults like myself, and for helping to impact our lives in the most positive of ways! I will always cherish this time I have spent at the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, and am excited to let others experience time here as well, thanks to YOU!”

Please give again today to continue providing these wonderful experiences for more interns to come! Your ongoing support is crucial in making our work possible, and to keep all of those informed on environmental and energy solutions!

EESI Briefing: Energy Efficiency Jobs

Four of the five summer interns

EESI Briefing: Energy Efficiency Jobs Panel

Four of the five summer interns at a briefing

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May 28, 2019
Positive Shift on Public Opinion of Climate Change - You're Part of That!

By Susan Williams | Director of Development

Girl Walking Through Flood

This spring, another powerful EESI briefing highlighted the positive public opinion trends on climate change. YOU helped make this briefing possible--sharing these important insights with policymakers and the public.

EESI invited Yale Professor, Dr. Tony Leiserowitz, to share his research findings. He informed the audience of Congressional staff and others in the policy community that a record number of Americans-- 73 percent based on a December 2018 poll--acknowledge that climate change is happening. Sixty-eight percent understand that it is human-caused. And an increasing number agree that something must be done about it!

Check out this video interview with Dr. Leiserowitz that you helped make possible for a brief summary of the findings discussed at the briefing!

We're seeing a big uptick in public concern about climate change within both major parties! The Democratic party has long accepted the reality of climate change, and now sees its members and policymakers highlighting climate as a key priority for Members of Congress and many of the Democratic candidates for the presidency.

Republicans, including conservative Republicans, meanwhile, are increasingly likely to acknowledge that climate change is happening and that it is human-caused. 80 percent of conservative Republicans support federal investment in renewable energy research, up from 50 percent in 2013!

More Americans are engaged with the issue of climate change more than ever; due to their social connections, intensifying media coverage, and, sadly, increasingly visible climate impacts.

Record-setting extreme weather events--such as massive fires, hurricanes, and extreme flooding--happening across the nation are alarming those who did not accept the threat of climate change before.

Yale’s data visualization site, Yale Climate Opinion Maps, show climate change perceptions and support for renewable energy across the United States.

Substantial majorities in every single Congressional district think that climate change will harm future generations, and huge majorities in every single district support climate actions like funding renewable energy research.

Despite these new findings, relatively few Americans realize that climate change is already affecting them personally.

Please give again today to continue making these efforts possible! With your help, we can keep all those informed, and spread the awareness of the effects of climate change!

EESI Briefing Climate Change in the American Mind

Wind Turbines

Bike Sharing in Barcelona

Trees by Ian Matyssik

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