Another hot summer is expected, meaning many families will have to dip deeper into their bank accounts as temperatures rise. The intense heat can add stress to already tight budgets.
What is happening?
Utility bills are expected to rise by about 8% for many Americans as temperatures rise, according to a report by the National Association of Energy Assistance Directors detailed by the Guardian.
“Due to unprecedented increases in summer temperatures and higher rates of extreme heat events over the past 10 years, the cost of summer cooling has increased from $476 in 2014 to a projected $719 in 2024,” NEADA wrote in her report.
A higher energy bill can be difficult for many people because many other bills have gone up in recent years. Since June, the latest inflation report from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that consumer prices rose 3.3% on a 12-month basis ending in May.
This is low compared to the 9-10% inflation rate just two years ago, but is still higher than the 1% to 2% that is generally considered to be acceptable.
Why is this worrying?
According to US News & World Report, nearly two-thirds of states have no summer shutdown protections, which increases the risk of dangerous health complications for low-income families. As pointed out by the Guardian, around 11,000 deaths were likely caused by the heat last year. The Associated Press notes that it’s a record number that goes back to at least 1987.
“Families in America are in a dangerous position where they may have to sacrifice other aspects of their lives just to maintain power,” Shelby Green, a researcher at the Energy and Policy Institute, told the Guardian. “There are customers who have mounting utility bills going into the summer season struggling to keep up with current costs.”
A paper in the National Library of Medicine estimates that “heat-related deaths and morbidity are grossly underestimated.” Furthermore, studies have shown that extreme heat disproportionately affects members of marginalized groups.
Unfortunately, as temperatures have risen due to human pollution, events such as droughts, heat waves and floods have become more frequent and severe. Our warming planet has even amplified natural weather patterns like El Niño—a phenomenon already associated with extreme weather.
What can be done to reduce utility bills?
Budderfly is a Connecticut company that offers energy-efficient upgrades and even promises to pay its customers’ utility bills if those upgrades don’t reduce energy use.
Converting old and inefficient systems powered by dirty energy sources to cleaner, more efficient systems can also help you save money. Solar panels and community solar programs, for example, save people significant money over time and eliminate the pollution that contributes to scorching summers and extreme weather.
Ultimately, everyone can benefit from working to cool our planet.
Supporting tree planting initiatives can help prevent heat islands from forming, while switching to LED light bulbs can also reduce harmful pollution and lower electricity bills. Cutting out energy vampires is another win-win for your wallet and the planet.
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