Power outages can quickly turn into a health crisis for the millions of Americans that rely on electricity for home medical devices, including life-support equipment (such as dialysis machines and ventilators) and technologies for independent living (such as refrigeration for medicine and internet for telehealth appointments). Many electricity-dependent individuals are residents of affordable housing communities, yet affordable housing providers have limited access to programs that advance the development and affordability of backup power resources.

To assess the potential for solar+storage to improve health outcomes for medically vulnerable residents of multifamily affordable housing, Clean Energy Group, Connecticut Green Bank, Connecticut Insurance Department, Operation Fuel, and the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health partnered to explore resilient power solutions that prioritize energy resilience and cost savings. The resulting report, Optimizing Energy Resilience to Support Medically Vulnerable Residents in Multifamily Affordable Housing, centers on a technoeconomic analysis that explores opportunities to maintain electricity to essential resident services, both in-unit and in communal spaces, at three multifamily affordable housing facilities in Connecticut. The report concludes with recommendations for developing programs and policies that recognize solar+storage at affordable housing as necessary to public health in the event of a power outage.

In this webinar, project partners will discuss the methodology and results of their technoeconomic analysis, including key findings and recommendations. Speakers will also discuss applicable incentives available through Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program and Residential Renewable Energy Solutions program.