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California Climate & Energy Policy Update: Summer 2023

Expert BlogCaliforniaMerrian Borgeson, Michele Knab Hasson

California has made strides in reducing emissions, spurred by the increasingly devastating impacts of climate disruption communities across the globe.

Tenant Protections, Good Jobs Key to Decarbonizing Buildings

Expert BlogLos Angeles, CaliforniaMichele Knab Hasson, Merrian Borgeson

In Los Angeles, buildings are the top source of carbon pollution, and the city is taking bold steps to end these harmful emissions completely by 2050. As city leaders and other stakeholders consider how to achieve these emissions reductions equitably…

LA Must Tackle Clean Buildings & Affordable Housing Together

Expert BlogLos Angeles, CaliforniaStefan Schaffer, Michele Knab Hasson, Megan Ross

Currently, LA’s building stock is responsible for 43% of the city’s total greenhouse gas emissions. A recent report dives deep into the complex relationship between getting fossil fuels out of buildings and creating and preserving affordable housing in Los Angeles…

New Program Provides Energy Burden Relief for Tenants in LA

Expert BlogLos Angeles, CaliforniaMichele Knab Hasson

The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the largest municipal utility in the country, has worked with advocates to develop a comprehensive program that provides benefits to low income tenants and is accessible by affordable housing providers.

Los Angeles Leads in Easing Consumer Utility Debt

Expert BlogLos Angeles, CaliforniaMichele Knab Hasson
The City of Los Angeles is taking action to address crippling debt accumulated by low-income utility customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting Off Gas Must Benefit Those Burdened by Pollution

Expert BlogMichele Knab Hasson, Merrian Borgeson
Leading California equity groups are calling on the state to take stronger steps to support healthier, more affordable, fossil fuel-free homes, especially for low-income renters and Black, Brown and Indigenous communities. Protecting the health of Californians most impacted by pollution…

Federal Relief Should Support Healthier Energy Efficiency

Expert BlogDr. Veena Singla, Michele Knab Hasson
As millions across the country spend long days indoors during the pandemic, it is more critical than ever to promote healthier, energy efficient homes with safer weatherization materials under federal programs.

Healthy Energy Efficiency: The Proof Is in the Materials

Expert BlogInternationalMichele Knab Hasson
These new resources shine a light on the efficacy of healthy materials and deepen our understanding of how contractors and industry insiders actually use materials. We hope they are informative and useful and that they whet the appetite for healthier…

Report: “A Green New Deal for Renters” Is Possible

Expert BlogMaria Stamas, Michele Knab Hasson
A new report makes a strong case for Los Angeles leaders to reassess the city’s investments in energy efficiency programs to ensure they better serve affordable housing residents who remain deeply underserved by these services. Such investments could save low-income…

Making It Easy to Create Healthy Energy Efficiency

Expert BlogMichele Knab Hasson
Creating the easiest way possible for those implementing energy upgrades is a key strategy in ensuring the heathiest materials are used where they are needed most.

A Big Step Forward in Debate Over LA’s Clean Energy Future

Expert BlogLos AngelesMichele Knab Hasson

Mayor Eric Garcetti reaffirmed Los Angeles’ commitment to securing a carbon- and pollution-free energy future for Angelenos in a groundbreaking announcement today that the nation’s largest municipal utility will not be moving forward with a controversial plan to rebuild three…

The Case for Doing No Harm in Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Expert BlogMichele Knab Hasson
Danger from some materials widely used for efficiency upgrades is real, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Two new publications explain what can be done to make energy upgrades healthier for affordable housing residents, workers, and neighbors.

A New Prescription for Healthy Building Retrofits

Expert BlogMichele Knab Hasson
Not all building materials are created equal when it comes to people's health. A coalition of partners has created a resource to improve energy efficiency by using healthy retrofits in multifamily homes.