Isles’ Home Energy Action for Trenton (HEAT) project uses research, action and education to green homes in urban areas, making them more energy-efficient and healthier. HEAT has three primary goals:
Research the nature and effects of sub-standard housing in urban neighborhoods. HEAT is analyzing the physical and environmental characteristics of urban homes and their effects both on occupants’ quality of life (health, satisfaction, self-reliance) and on the region’s greenhouse gas emissions. Research is assessing the performance of older, substandard buildings and calculating the carbon footprint and cost to lower income residents and neighborhoods. As homes are retrofitted, Isles will track efficiency improvements over time to ensure they are maintained.
Support home audits and retrofits to improve environmental health and energy efficiency. After connecting with building owners and tenants to gain their support for performance improvements, Isles uses three approaches to make auditors available to low- and moderate-income Trenton residents:
- Hires auditors directly.
- Partners with existing energy assistance services like Mercer County WAP, Comfort Partners, and PSE&G’s Whole House Residential Energy Program.
- Invests HEAT funds to develop an Isles for-profit energy services business, Isles GEO, to conduct audits and provide services for HEAT.
Provide energy education for the Trenton region and beyond. HEAT is targeting urban residents, university students, the broader public, and all levels of government to increase understanding of energy and environmental justice issues and bring policy changes locally and nationally. Educational efforts include:
- Educating the public on the benefits of green homes and cleaner, alternative sources of energy.
- Partnering with institutions of higher learning to introduce students to the realities of energy and social issues in urban areas.
- Engaging other local, state, and national efforts to further community-based approaches to meeting energy and environmental justice goals.
- Exploring avenues to replicate Isles’ learning in other places and to promote policies that support more sustainable incentives and communities.