Renter Challenges and the Role of Energy Efficiency and Affordable Housing Policy

Low-income renters often experience poor housing quality, unaffordable rents, high energy cost burdens, and increased vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Energy efficiency retrofits and renovations can remedy some of these challenges, but local government staff and renters are concerned they will displace residents—either directly through renovation projects that cause renters to move out of their homes or indirectly through owners raising rents to recoup investments.

This fact sheet provides a high-level summary of the Energy Equity for Renters Toolkit and outlines how local governments can use energy efficiency programs, affordable housing policies, and equity-driven strategies to improve outcomes for renters and achieve their climate and affordability
goals. See the toolkit for more details.