How we can make energy more affordable for low-income families | DeAndrea Salvador

翻译人员: jacks peng 校对人员: Bighead Ge

So, as a child,

年幼时，

I used to spend all of my time at my great-grandmother's house.

我的大部分时间都在曾祖母家里度过。

On hot, humid, summer days, I would dash across the floor

在炎热潮湿的夏日， 我会小跑到房间另一端，

并把脸凑到家中唯一的空调前面。

and stick my face in front of her only air conditioner.

But I didn't realize that that simple experience,

但我没有意识到，这种单纯的体验

though brief,

虽然短暂，

was a privileged one in our community.

却是我们社区独有的。

Growing up, stories of next-door neighbors having to set up fake energy accounts

在我成长的过程中， 邻居捏造假能源帐户

or having to steal energy

或偷取能源

seemed normal to me.

是很正常的事。

During the winter, struggling to get warm,

在燃气被关闭后，

my neighbors would have no choice but to bypass the meter

为了冬天能取暖，

after their heat was shut off,

我的邻居只好绕开燃气表，

just to keep their family comfortable for one more day.

好让家人再勉强捱过一天。

These kinds of dangerous incidents can take root

这些危险的举动往往发生在

when people are faced with impossible choices.

人们别无选择的时候。

In the US, the average American spends three percent of their income on energy.

在美国，能源费占人均收入的3％。

In contrast, low-income and rural populations

相比之下，低收入或农村人口

can spend 20, even 30 percent of their income on energy.

可能要花20%，甚至30％的 收入来缴能源费。

In 2015, this caused over 25 million people to skip meals

在2015年，超过2500万人 为了不耗尽家中的能源

to provide power to their homes.

而不得不减少用餐次数。

This is when energy becomes a burden.

能源在此刻变成了一种负担。

But energy burdens are so much more than just a number.

但能源负担更并不只是一个数字。

They present impossible and perilous choices:

它让人们不得不面临许多 艰难甚至危及生命的抉择：

你会为孩子买流感药，

Do you take your child to get her flu medicine,

or do you feed her?

还是买吃的？

Or do you keep her warm?

或者是为她保暖？

It's an impossible choice,

这是一个困难的选择，

and nearly every month,

但几乎每个月

seven million people choose between medicine and energy.

都有700万人要面对 药物还是能源这样的难题。

This exposes a much larger and systemic issue.

这暴露了一个更大的系统性问题：

Families with high energy burdens are disproportionately people of color,

能源负担较大的家庭 都是一些有色人种，

他们每平方英尺要比 白人负担更多的能源开销。

who spend more per square foot than their white counterparts.

But it's also nurses, veterans and even schoolteachers

但护士，退伍军人，甚至教师，

who fall into the mass of 37 million people a year

往往也成为无法负担

who are unable to afford energy for their most basic needs.

基本能源需求的3700万人中的一部分，

As a result, those with high energy burdens

结果，那些能源负担沉重的人

have a greater likelihood of conditions like heart disease and asthma.

有更大的机率罹患心脏病和气喘。

Look -- given our rockets to Mars and our pocket-sized AI,

想想看——我们能把火箭送上火星， 制造能放进口袋的人工智能设备，

we have the tools to address these systemic inequities.

我们其实有能力解决这些不平等问题。

The technology is here.

我们拥有科技，

Cost of renewables, insulation, microgrids and smart home technology

可再生能源，保温材料， 微电网和智能家居的造价

are all decreasing.

都在下降。

However, even as we approach cost parity,

然而，即使能源接近成本平价，

the majority of those who own solar earn much more than the average American.

大多数拥有太阳能的人 都比普通的美国人富裕。

This is why, when I was 22, I founded the nonprofit RETI.

这就是为什么我在22岁的时候 创立了非营利组织RETI。

Our mission is to alleviate energy burdens by working with communities,

减轻能源负担是我们的使命。

我们与社区、公用事业、和政府机构合作，

utilities and government agencies alike

to provide equitable access to clean energy,

提供平等的清洁能源，

energy efficiency and energy technology.

能源效率，和能源技术。

But there's no one way to solve this.

但却没有一个方法能根除这个问题。

I believe in the power of local communities,

我相信当地社区的力量，

in the transforming effect of relationships.

也相信关系能够转变，

So we start by working directly with the communities

所以我们开始与能源负担最高的

that have the highest energy burdens.

社区展开合作。

We host workshops and events for communities

我们在社区举办研讨会和各种活动，

to learn about energy poverty,

去探讨能源匮乏的问题，

以及如何轻微改进他们设备，

and how making even small updates to their homes

like better insulation for windows and water heaters

例如提高窗户和热水器的保温性

can go a long way to maximize efficiency.

来将能源效率最大化。

We're connecting neighborhoods to community solar

我们正在用太阳能连接社区，

并引领以社区为主导的 智能家居研究

and spearheading community-led smart home research

and installation programs

和安装项目，

to help families bring down their energy bills.

以帮助家庭降低能源开支。

We're even working directly with elected officials,

我们甚至直接与民选官员合作，

advocating for more equitable pricing,

倡导更公平的能源定价，

because to see this vision of energy equity and resilience succeed,

因为要实现这种能源平等和弹性，

we have to work together sustainably.

我们必须朝可持续的方向共同努力。

Now, the US spends over three billion a year

美国每年拨款超过30亿

on energy bill payment assistance.

来补助能源帐单，

And these programs do help millions of people,

这些计划确实帮助了数百万人，

but they're only able to help a fraction of those in need.

但这些人只是冰山一角。

In fact,

事实上，

there is a 47-billion-dollar home-energy affordability gap,

家庭能源负担 缺口将近470亿美元，

因此单靠补助只是杯水车薪。

so assistance alone is not sustainable.

But by building energy equity and resilience into our communities,

但通过在社区建立能源公平和弹性，

we can assure fair and impartial access

我们可以公平和公正地获得

to energy that is clean, reliable and affordable.

干净，可靠，且实惠的能源。

At scale, microgrid technology, clean technology and energy efficiency

大规模的微电网技术， 清洁技术和能源效率

dramatically improve public health.

大大改善了公共健康。

And for those with high energy burdens,

对于那些能源负担高的人来说，

it can help them reclaim 20 percent of their income --

这可以帮助他们省20％的收入——

对努力维持生计的人来说，20%的收入。

20 percent of a person's income who's struggling to make ends meet.

这足以改变人生。

This is life-changing.

This is an opportunity for families to use their energy savings

这是一个家庭通过节省能源开支

to sponsor their future.

来开拓未来的机会。

我想起了我的曾祖母 和她的邻居们需要做出的

I think back to my great-grandmother and her neighbors,

the impossible choices that they had to make

那些困难的选择，

and the effect it had on our whole community.

以及这对整个社区的影响。

But this is not just about them.

但这不仅仅与他们有关。

There are millions nationwide having to make the same impossible choices today.

全国有数百万人也 面临着同样艰难的选择。

And I know high energy burdens are a tremendous barrier to overcome,

我知道高能源负担是一个 需要克服的巨大障碍，

但通过社区合作和技术，

but through relationships with communities and technology,

we have the paths to overcome them.

我们有了克服它们的途径。

当我们采取行动时，

And when we do,

生活将会变得更加舒适和从容。

we will all be more resilient.

Thank you.

谢谢。

(Applause)

（掌声）