Harvard Study Reveals 'Retrofit Gap' as Energy Insecurity Rises Across U.S. Households
A recent report by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University (JCHS), titled 'The Retrofit Gap: Disparities in Energy Insecurity and Homeowner Investment,' indicates that nearly one-fourth (24%) of U.S. homeowners spent over 6% of their income on energy costs in 2023. This 6% threshold defines being 'cost-burdened' by energy bills. Energy costs have significantly increased over the past three years, with electricity bills alone rising by an average of 15% to 18% nationally, and even more in some regions. Approximately 75% of Americans report an increase in their energy costs, with 42% stating their bills went up 'by a lot.' The study identifies multiple dimensions of energy insecurity, including economic burdens, physically deficient homes with poor energy efficiency, and behavioral trade-offs such as forgoing food or medicine to pay utility bills. Energy insecurity has risen across all income brackets, with the most significant increase observed in households earning $30,000 to $149,999 an...
