Marcela Moreno is a Research Project Coordinator II with the Strategic Energy Institute at Georgia Tech.  The Strategic Energy Institute provides an institutional framework for long-term collaboration in energy research, and connects resources and expertise across Georgia Tech, and in the broader energy community.

The Just Energy Summit was a wonderful conference focused on a piece of the energy story that I feel is often neglected -- the equity conversation. The attendees brought together people from a diverse set of backgrounds that included community/environmental activists, urban farmers, city decision makers and analysts, nonprofits...and more! In my opinion, there are not many forums that bring together a mix like that to not only discuss issues, but to learn together. Sometimes I think we may get too siloed in our own research and field, and events like this can bring people down to earth, to realize the full impact or implications of their research, actions, or inactions.

In a panel on energy equity and housing, an attendee brought up that energy efficiency will continue to be a major issue, considering the millennial generation’s general preference to rent over buying a home. As a millennial living in multi-family housing, I totally agree with this sentiment. There is a paradox where multi-family housing owners must bear the majority of the work to install energy efficiency improvements, but the tenant reaps the benefits. The first thing that came to mind was that the property owner should see the value-add to improving their building because the tenant would value having appliances and fixtures that would lessen their electricity bill, right? Not only is it the ‘right’ thing to do, but it does seem to have a benefit for the property owner! Now I’m sitting here wondering why this is not a motivation. I have had similar experiences with my own landlord regarding internet. Our choices are U-Verse and Comcast, but my roommate and I would like Google Fiber. We sit in our apartment with questionable internet speeds scratching our heads wondering what is holding back the building owner in adding improvements to make their place more attractive? On the other hand, if they did add these improvements, would rental prices also go up and negate any savings in energy? How do we make energy efficient improvements on rental properties more attractive to property owners? This is something that would be fun to explore.

Another panel I attended was on racial justice and energy equity. The conversations were especially relevant given the Serve-Learn-Sustain series on environmental justice this year. The broad range of perspectives led to engaging conversation on the too frequent instances of negative externalities of energy production affecting low-income or minority populations. Personally, the conversation has challenged me to learn more about Plant Vogtle (Georgia Power's nuclear power plant, located in east Georgia) and the health effects of nuclear energy on nearby communities. In particular, a panelist noted that when engaging in these discussions, we need to remember that these health hazards don’t discriminate on race and we cannot focus on a specific minority or group. As a Mexican-American, this comment spoke to me, because at times it seems, especially in the South, that other minorities’ voices are not reflected in activist discourse.

I believe the Just Energy Summit did a wonderful job of providing information to anyone wanting to make a substantial change. The panel on taking action -- with representatives from the City of Atlanta, Georgia WATCH, and the Sierra Club -- shared ways to push for energy equity (whether it be environmental justice and pollution, energy rates, or climate issues) to decision makers and policy enforcers. All in all, the workshop provided some wonderful food for thought on energy efficiency, energy burden, and the disproportionate effects of energy waste.  I look forward to exploring these issues in depth in my future studies and feel inspired to continue to keep these conversations going.