Connecticut Health Resilience
Protecting medically vulnerable, electricity-dependent affordable housing residents through solar and storage technologies.
The goal of this initiative is to understand the investment needed in climate smart technology, including resilient and renewable backup power, that improve health outcomes of medically vulnerable affordable housing residents, including those with electricity-dependent medical equipment and temperature-regulated medication, in the event of an outage.
Clean Energy Group serves as the technical partner of Connecticut Green Bank to build resilient power awareness – solar paired with battery storage (solar+storage) - for affordable housing providers, including overviewing how resilient power can support public health in the event of an outage and discussing eligible incentive programs like Connecticut’s Energy Storage Solutions program. CEG provides project-specific technical assistance to conduct solar+storage feasibility assessments and weatherization audits, including a deep-dive into how resilient power can support electricity-dependent residents. The feasibility assessments are informed by the actual experience of electricity-dependent affordable housing residents through a research and survey initiative being led by the Yale Center on Climate Change and Health and Operation Fuel.
Who We Serve
For medically vulnerable people reliant on electricity for their home healthcare needs, power outages can be life threatening. Solar paired with battery storage can keep critical systems powered during grid outages, such as electrical outlets for medical equipment and refrigeration, and heating and cooling systems.
CEG provides technical assistance support to affordable housing providers in Connecticut. The initiative is primarily focused on low-income and environmental justice communities designated as Justice40 Communities by the federal government.
Project Impact
Provided education to dozens of affordable housing partners on the benefits of resilient solar+storage for medically vulnerable residents.
Supported 30 solar+storage feasibility assessments for 10 affordable housing providers.
Collaborated with Operation Fuel, the Yale Schools of Medicine and Public Health, Connecticut Insurance Department, and Connecticut Green Bank on a report, Emerging Public Health Needs for Climate Smart Technology in Connecticut Affordable Housing.
Project Partners
Connecticut Health Resilience Webinars
Meet Our Team
Photo Credits, top to bottom: iStock; iStock; Bigstock.