According to an analysis by the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, California's Energy Savings Assistance Program could be four times as effective for low-income renters if it were better deployed.

California's Energy Savings Assistance Program has the potential to achieve four times the savings it currently does "if the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approves increased investments, new measures, and innovative program delivery models," Maria Stamas and Jose Torres write.
That's based on a report by the Energy Efficiency for All coalition, which finds that as much as $200 million in utility bill savings are currently going unrealized. Part of the problem may be housing type: "at least one-third of those eligible for California's low-income energy efficiency assistance live in multifamily buildings, yet energy efficiency programs have historically underserved these residents."
At the same time, Stamas and Torres say, lower-income households tend to spend a larger proportion of their income on energy, and often live in older, poorly insulated rental housing with less efficient appliances. They're also likely to live closer to pollution sources like freeways and power plants.
By adopting better program design, funding models, and performance goals (more in the article) over the next 14 years, California's four largest investor-owned utilities could save 934 gigawatt hours of electricity, according to the report.
FULL STORY: Report: $200M in Renters’ Bill Savings Left on the Table

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions