Between the recent
protests and the massive financial crisis that has been created by the
Coronavirus pandemic, many people’s focus has been brought to matters of social
justice:
●
How are people from certain
classes and communities being held back?
●
Are some of the things most of us
take for granted major sources of hardship for others?
●
What ways can we uplift households
and communities that are disadvantaged?
Even when it comes
to solar, these topics are relevant. It may not be the most obvious hero, but
solar power actually has the ability to make life easier for people who are
struggling and remove obstacles that are keeping them from getting ahead.
High Energy Bills are Directly Linked to Poverty
There are many
studies and reports that show that high utility bills are a major burden for
low-income households.
Poorer residents
typically live in lower-quality housing that is not very energy efficient. This
means that they are usually paying higher electricity bills than
those in better-quality homes of the same size. Whereas people from higher
socioeconomic classes only spend 5% of their income on energy bills, the poor
spend 10% or more. Some of the worst off pay 25-30% of their income in utility costs.
What’s worse is
that hefty utility bills can actually be the cause of poverty. Households that are
met with very high bills month after month can be driven below the poverty
line, and are more likely to be still stuck in poverty years later.
The problem is
especially big for low-income people who live in particularly harsh climates.
When dealing with searing summers or frigid winters, residents can’t forego
energy-intensive air conditioning and heating. Many thus end up with bills that
they just can’t afford.
Of course, it’s
easy to see how this energy burden can set people behind in life. When large
portions of their monthly budget must go toward utilities, they often have to
minimize their spending on groceries, car fuel, education, and other basic
necessities. High utility bills can be what keeps children from going to
college and accessing the opportunities that would help them escape poverty.
Solar can Help Improve Energy Equality
Because solar has
the ability to cut down or eliminate energy bills entirely, it has the power to
relieve a lot of the burden facing lower-income households. Solar contractors
are in a special position to help make this possible, by partnering with local
governments for community solar projects, striking deals with multi-family
housing developments, partnering with federal assistance programs, or even working
out special financing plans.
While some of these
efforts may be plenty lucrative, others may require contractors to decrease
their profit margins. But when you have a steady supply of serious leads
backing you up, this loss can easily be made up for.
You can secure
reliable, lucrative sales opportunities by partnering with an agency that
specializes in solar lead generation.
Grid Freedom, for example, uses a meticulous system for regularly delivering
customers who are ready and able to afford going solar now.
