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

譯者: Wang Yu-Kai 審譯者: Yanyan Hong

So, as a child,

幼時的我基本上住在曾祖母的家裡。

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

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

在炎熱潮濕的夏日， 我會在家中奔跑，

並把臉貼在唯一的空調上。

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

But I didn't realize that that simple experience,

但我沒有意識到這單純的體驗

though brief,

雖然短暫，

卻是我們社區獨有的特權。

was a privileged one in our community.

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

在我成長期間， 聽聞鄰居捏造假能源帳戶

or having to steal energy

或偷取能源，看似正常不過。

seemed normal to me.

During the winter, struggling to get warm,

在冬天裡為了取暖，

my neighbors would have no choice but to bypass the meter

我的鄰居別無選擇，

不得不在暖氣被關閉後， 嘗試躲過儀表紀錄偷電，

after their heat was shut off,

just to keep their family comfortable for one more day.

只是為了讓他們的家人多舒服一天。

這些危險的舉動往往發生在 人們別無選擇的時候，

These kinds of dangerous incidents can take root

when people are faced with impossible choices.

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

在美國，人們平均要花上 3％ 的收入來繳能源費。

In contrast, low-income and rural populations

相比之下，低收入 農村人口可能要花 20%，

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

甚至 30％ 的收入來繳能源費。

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

在 2015 年，超過 2500 萬人

為了支付電費而減少用餐，

to provide power to their homes.

這就是能量成為負擔的時候。

This is when energy becomes a burden.

但能源負擔並不只是數字，

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

They present impossible and perilous choices:

它呈現許多致命的抉擇：

Do you take your child to get her flu medicine,

是要給孩子流感藥，還是要餵飽她？

or do you feed her?

或者是讓她保持溫暖？

Or do you keep her warm?

It's an impossible choice,

這是一個困難的選擇。

and nearly every month,

但幾乎每個月都有 700 萬人

seven million people choose between medicine and energy.

要面對從藥品和能源中 二選其一這樣的難題。

這顯現了一個更大的系統性問題：

This exposes a much larger and systemic issue.

Families with high energy burdens are disproportionately people of color,

能源帳單負擔較重的家庭 有很高的比例是有色人種，

每平方英尺他們比白人花費得更多。

who spend more per square foot than their white counterparts.

But it's also nurses, veterans and even schoolteachers

不僅這樣，護士、退伍軍人和教師

who fall into the mass of 37 million people a year

也落入無法負擔 基本能源需求的 3700 萬人中。

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

As a result, those with high energy burdens

結果，那些人負擔沉重的人

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

有更大的機率罹患心臟病和氣喘。

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

看哪，我們能把火箭送上火星

和製造口袋大小的人工智慧，

we have the tools to address these systemic inequities.

我們其實能解決這不公平的現象，

The technology is here.

我們擁有科技，

Cost of renewables, insulation, microgrids and smart home technology

可再生能源、絕緣體、微電網

和智能家居的造價都在下降。

are all decreasing.

However, even as we approach cost parity,

然而，即使能源接近成本價，

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

大多數擁有太陽能的人

遠比普通的美國人富裕。

這就是為什麼我在 22 歲的時候 創立了非營利組織 RETI，

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

減輕能源負擔是我們的使命。

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

我們與社區、公用事業、 和政府機構合作，

utilities and government agencies alike

to provide equitable access to clean energy,

去提供清潔能源、 能源效率，和能源技術。

energy efficiency and energy technology.

But there's no one way to solve this.

但是這亂象並沒有標準的解決方案。

I believe in the power of local communities,

我相信當地社區的力量，

in the transforming effect of relationships.

相信關係的轉變效應。

So we start by working directly with the communities

於是，我們直接與 能源負擔最高的社區展開合作，

that have the highest energy burdens.

We host workshops and events for communities

我們和社區舉辦研討會 去探討能源的缺乏，

to learn about energy poverty,

以及如何小規模地更新他們設備，

and how making even small updates to their homes

like better insulation for windows and water heaters

像是更好的隔熱窗戶和熱水器，

can go a long way to maximize efficiency.

可以大大提高效率。

We're connecting neighborhoods to community solar

我們正在連接社區 以便發展社區太陽能，

and spearheading community-led smart home research

和帶領以社區為主導的 智能家居研究和安裝計劃，

and installation programs

to help families bring down their energy bills.

以幫助家庭降低能源賬單。

We're even working directly with elected officials,

我們甚至直接與議員合作，

倡導更公平的能源定價，

advocating for more equitable pricing,

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

因為要使能源的平等 及可持續發展取得成功，

we have to work together sustainably.

我們必須朝永續的方向共同努力。

美國每年花了超過 30 億 來補助能源帳單，

Now, the US spends over three billion a year

on energy bill payment assistance.

And these programs do help millions of people,

這些計劃確實對數百萬人有所幫助，

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

但他們只能幫助 一小部分有需要的人。

In fact,

事實上，家庭負擔能源的能力

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

有將近 470 億美元的落差，

因此單靠補助是無法永續的。

so assistance alone is not sustainable.

But by building energy equity and resilience into our communities,

但透過在我們的社區 實行能源平等及提供可持續性能源，

we can assure fair and impartial access

我們可以公平和公正地

獲得乾淨、可靠且實惠的能源。

to energy that is clean, reliable and affordable.

At scale, microgrid technology, clean technology and energy efficiency

按比例說，微電網技術、 清潔技術和能源效率

dramatically improve public health.

大規模地改善了公共健康。

And for those with high energy burdens,

對於那些能源負擔高的人來說，

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

它可以幫助他們省下收入的 20％，

一位拼命在維持生計的人 能夠節省收入的 20％。

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

這對他們的生活有著巨大的幫助，

This is life-changing.

This is an opportunity for families to use their energy savings

這是家庭利用節能來贊助未來的機會。

to sponsor their future.

我想起了我的曾祖母和她的鄰居，

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

the impossible choices that they had to make

那些他們面對的困難選擇，

and the effect it had on our whole community.

以及對整個社區的影響，

But this is not just about them.

但這不僅僅與他們有關，

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

全國有數百萬人 和他們一樣有著艱難的選擇。

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

我知道高能源負擔 是一個巨大的障礙，

但通過社區合作

but through relationships with communities and technology,

和技術，

we have the paths to overcome them.

我們有了克服它們的途徑，

當我們這樣做時， 我們的生活將會變得更具彈性。

And when we do,

we will all be more resilient.

Thank you.

謝謝。

(Applause)

（掌聲）