How Energy Digital Twins Can Save Native American Communities Thousands on Energy Bills

By Keon Mobasher (Sep. 17, 2024)

Native American communities in the United States face significant energy burdens, with their households experiencing energy costs that are 45% higher than those of white, non-Hispanic households (Drehobl, Ariel, et al., 2020). Various factors, including inadequate housing, limited access to energy-efficient technologies, and high poverty rates, drive this disparity. Addressing these energy challenges is crucial as high energy burdens disproportionately affect the quality of life in Native American communities, limiting resources for other essential needs like food, healthcare, and education. Power Theory’s PowerTwin, an energy digital twin platform, offers a solution to help these communities reduce energy waste and lower energy bills through real-time energy monitoring and optimization.

Understanding the Energy Burden in Native American Communities

Energy burden refers to the percentage of household income spent on energy costs, including heating, cooling, and electricity. A household is considered energy-burdened if they spend more than 6% of their income on energy bills, with severe energy burden defined as spending more than 10%. According to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Native American households have a median energy burden of 4.2%, which is significantly higher than the 2.7% burden faced by white, non-Hispanic households (Drehobl, Ariel, et al., 2020).

• Poor Housing Conditions: Many Native American homes are older and lack modern insulation, efficient heating systems, and energy-efficient appliances, making them more costly to maintain in terms of energy use.

• Geographic Isolation & Climate: Native American reservations are often situated in remote areas with restricted access to energy-efficient technologies and infrastructure, leading to higher energy costs. Climate also affects Native American reservations as extreme weather in these isolated places often has a higher influence on energy consumption patterns.

• Lower Incomes: Native American households generally have lower median incomes than white, non-Hispanic households, making energy costs a larger proportion of their budget.

How PowerTwin Can Help Reduce Energy Burden

Power Theory's PowerTwin platform offers an innovative approach to addressing energy burdens in Native American communities by leveraging energy digital twins. These digital twins create a three-dimensional, real-time model of a building's energy consumption, providing detailed insights into where energy is wasted and how to optimize energy use.

• Identifying Energy Inefficiencies: One of the most significant benefits of PowerTwin is its ability to identify energy inefficiencies in homes. Older, less efficient appliances and poorly insulated areas of the house are key contributors to high energy bills. PowerTwin can significantly reduce these inefficiencies, allowing homeowners to prioritize upgrades and repairs that will significantly reduce energy costs. PowerTwin also presents to users energy-saving opportunities without retrofitting such as simple behavioral changes that can add up over a long period of time. 

• Education and Empowerment: Many Native American households are unaware of how much energy they are using or where their energy inefficiencies lie. It is worth noting that over 14% of Native Americans do not have access to electricity at all (Stone, 2020). This is concurrent with a survey carried out by Power Theory in April of 2024 that showed that 62% of American college students were unsure of where or how to access their in-house energy data. PowerTwin’s user-friendly interface educates institutions and homeowners about energy-saving practices and empowers them to take control of their energy consumption. This can result in immediate savings as households adopt more efficient habits, such as adjusting thermostats, using energy-efficient lighting, or sealing drafts.

• Long-Term Savings and Sustainability: By reducing energy waste and optimizing energy usage, PowerTwin can help Native American institutional buildings and households lower their energy costs, leading to long-term financial savings. This is particularly important for low-income households, where even small reductions in energy bills can significantly affect the outcome of utility bills over some time. Additionally, by promoting energy efficiency, PowerTwin contributes to environmental sustainability, aligning with many Native American communities’ environmental stewardship and conservation values.

Conclusion

Native American communities experience disproportionately high energy burdens, driven by a range of socioeconomic and infrastructure-related challenges. Power Theory's PowerTwin platform offers a practical solution to reduce this burden by providing real-time insights into energy consumption and identifying opportunities for energy efficiency. By empowering Native American households to reduce energy waste, PowerTwin helps alleviate financial strain and promotes long-term sustainability, improving the quality of life for these communities.

References

Stone, Laurie. “Native Energy: Rural Electrification on Tribal Lands.” RMI, 24 June 2023, rmi.org/blog_2014_06_24_native_energy_rural_electrification_on_tribal_lands/#:~:text=Access%20to%20Reliable%20Electricity,far%20from%20a%20utility%20grid.

Drehobl, Ariel, et al. “How High  Are Household Energy Burdens? An Assessment of National and Metropolitan Energy Burden across the United States.” https://www.aceee.org/sites/default/files/pdfs/u2006.pdf, ACEEE, Sept. 2020.