Richmond Energy Burden
Understanding Energy Inequity in Richmond
C3 has completed energy burden studies in Charlottesville, Richmond, and Albemarle County to analyze energy burden and its drivers at a local level, seeking to understand the relationship between energy and housing affordability.
In Richmond, Virginia, a city with deep wealth inequalities, these increasing energy costs are exacerbating a broader cost of living crisis. In 2023, the City of Richmond declared a housing crisis, citing rising home prices and a lack of affordable units available to rent or own.
C3's study below identifies key drivers of energy burden and maps disparities between households based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to race and ethnicity, income level, home ownership vs renting, and building age.
Average Annual Energy Cost Per Census Tract. Distribution of annual energy costs throughout Richmond, VA. The colors range from light to dark, with darker shading representing higher costs. Map created by C3.
Lessening the Load: Energy Burden and Unaffordability in RVA
C3 first published a report on energy burden in 2020, the Uncovering Energy Inequity report, which analyzed energy burden and costs in the City of Charlottesville, Virginia. This report expands on lessons learned in the Charlottesville Uncovering Energy Inequity report and dives into the City of Richmond’s unique challenges related to energy burden. Combining data analysis with personal and professional experience of interviewees, the report offers programmatic, funding, and policy recommendations to reduce energy burden across the City.