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American Cities Climate Challenge
GEM Energy Burden Reports
We interviewed over 30 experts in cities and community-based organizations to better understand how to make important energy and equity data speak to their work. In response to these interviews, we created these short reports of the 25 cities in the American Cities Climate Challenge showing their current energy burdens, how that burden has changed over time, and how other equity indicators are related to energy burden. Click your city below to find your energy burden impact report!
Disparity is the factor difference between the least burdened quintile and the most burdened quintile.
Not part of the 25 ACCC cities but interested in your own energy burden report?
Albuquerque, NM
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
In 2013, Albuquerque’s median energy burden of 4.1% was above the national average, exceeding the national average, and below the New Mexico median of 4.9%. Energy burden in Albuquerque decreased by 0.6% by 2019, falling below the national average. This improvement was driven primarily by an increase in incomes, although average energy costs also decreased.
Atlanta, GA
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
Atlanta is currently the 7th most energy burdened city out of the Climate Challenge cities. As of 2019, Atlanta’s average energy burden is 4.5%, 1.25 times the national average. When energy burden is mapped across the city by neighborhood, the data show that energy burden disproportionately impacts residents in the southern portions of the city.
Austin, TX
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
Across the city, Austin's average energy burden is 3.2% as of 2019, 11% less than the national average. When energy burden is mapped across the city by neighborhood, the data shows that energy burden disproportionately impacts residents in the inner portions of the city.
Boston, MA
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
Boston is currently the 9th most energy burdened city out of the Climate Challenge cities. Across the city, Boston's average energy burden is 4.3% as of 2019, 1.19 times the national average. When energy burden is mapped across the city by neighborhood, the data shows that energy burden disproportionately impacts residents in the inner portions of the city.
Charlotte, NC
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
Charlotte is currently the 12th most energy burdened city out of the Climate Challenge cities. Across the city, Charlotte's average energy burden is 3.9% as of 2019, 1.08 times the national average. When energy burden is mapped across the city by neighborhood, the data shows that energy burden disproportionately impacts residents in the northern inner portions of the city.
Chicago, IL
6 Years of Energy Burden Impacts
February 2021
Chicago is currently the 11th most energy burdened city out of the Climate Challenge cities. Across the city, Chicago's average energy burden is 4.1% as of 2019, 1.14 times the national average. When energy burden is mapped across the city by neighborhood, the data shows that energy burden disproportionately impacts residents in the southeastern portions of the city.
Not part of the 25 ACCC cities but interested in your own energy burden report?
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