air conditioning utility allowances for public housing meeting with : u.s. department of housing and...
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Air Conditioning Utility Air Conditioning Utility AllowancesAllowancesfor Public Housingfor Public Housing
Meeting with :Meeting with :U.S. Department of Housing and Urban U.S. Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentDevelopment
Entergy Services, Inc. Entergy Services, Inc. December 2002December 2002
Home cooling is no longer Home cooling is no longer considered an energy considered an energy “luxury.”“luxury.”
Low-Income Home CoolingPct that Cool Expenditures Energy Burden
Northeast 81.7% $39* 0.3%
Midwest 73.8% $63 1.6%
South 95.6% $174 1.8%
West 59.8% $68 0.6%
Hot weather is as deadly, if not Hot weather is as deadly, if not more so, than cold weather.more so, than cold weather.
Summary of Weather Related Fatalities and Injuries(1998 – 2000)
Extreme Weather1998 1999 2000
Fatalities Injuries Fatalities Injuries Fatalities Injuries
Extreme cold 11 27 7 32 26 6
Extreme heat 173 673 502 1,477 158 469
SOURCENational Weather Service, Summary of Natural Hazard Statistics for 2000 in the United States, at 2.
Even paying cooling bills does not make Even paying cooling bills does not make public housing costs in warm weather states public housing costs in warm weather states unreasonably high.unreasonably high.
Low-Income Heating + Cooling CostsLow-Income Heating + Cooling Costs Northeast: $558 (includes $39 cooling)Northeast: $558 (includes $39 cooling) Midwest: $491(includes $63 cooling)Midwest: $491(includes $63 cooling) South: $446 (includes $174 cooling)South: $446 (includes $174 cooling) West: $274 (includes $68 cooling)West: $274 (includes $68 cooling)
Source
LIHEAP Home Energy Notebook for FY 2000
Table A5c and A6
Air conditioning is not merely a Air conditioning is not merely a luxury, it is a health and safety luxury, it is a health and safety protection.protection.
According to the Center for Disease Control, “air conditioning is the number-one According to the Center for Disease Control, “air conditioning is the number-one protective factor against heat-related illness and death.” Not even electric fans protective factor against heat-related illness and death.” Not even electric fans provide protection against heat-related illness:provide protection against heat-related illness:
Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the Electric fans may provide comfort, but when the temperature is in the high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool high 90s, fans will not prevent heat-related illness. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a much better way to cool off. Air conditioning is the strongest protective factor way to cool off. Air conditioning is the strongest protective factor against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few against heat-related illness. Exposure to air conditioning for even a few hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness.hours a day will reduce the risk for heat-related illness.
One study concluded flatly that air-conditioning has the effect of reducing heat-One study concluded flatly that air-conditioning has the effect of reducing heat-related mortality in U.S. cities. In New York City alone, for example, 21% of all related mortality in U.S. cities. In New York City alone, for example, 21% of all heat-related deaths that occurred between 1964 and 1988 could have been heat-related deaths that occurred between 1964 and 1988 could have been avoided by air conditioning.avoided by air conditioning.
National Fuel Funds NetworkWhen Weather Kills (June 2002)
Entergy requests that HUD take Entergy requests that HUD take the following actions:the following actions:
HUD should agree to pay for air conditioning and HUD should agree to pay for air conditioning and cooling consumption on same basis as heating.cooling consumption on same basis as heating.
At a minimum, HUD should agree that in At a minimum, HUD should agree that in communities where air conditioning penetration communities where air conditioning penetration reaches 70%, HUD will pay air conditioning costs.reaches 70%, HUD will pay air conditioning costs.
HUD should issue an immediate directive HUD should issue an immediate directive explaining that HUD’s ban on payment of air explaining that HUD’s ban on payment of air conditioning costs is not a ban on cooling costs conditioning costs is not a ban on cooling costs and directing that LHAs promulgate separate and directing that LHAs promulgate separate cooling utility allowances.cooling utility allowances.
