RETI is working to reduce energy poverty in North Carolina by decreasing energy costs for low-income families through renewable energy technologies and educating residents on energy efficiency. When families spend a disproportionate amount of their income - over 10% - on energy bills, they face difficult choices between paying for heat, food or medicine. Currently over 1.5 million North Carolina households need energy bill assistance each year but only 10% receive it, usually for just one month. RETI aims to advocate for policies that expand access to lower-cost renewable energy and make homes more energy efficient.
This presentation was given October 18, 2010 by by Professor Nora Silver, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, Harumitsu Inouye, CEO of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, and Professor Jim Lincoln also of Haas.
IBEW, Utility Industry Meet in the Middle - Marc Aisenjeremyreeds
In June, the Nielsen work force voted 14 to 6 in favor of union representation by Jersey City, N.J., Local 164. Lead Organizer Marc Aisen worked with Region 1 Coordinator Steve Rockafellow and Local 164 Organizer Steve Clay on the campaign.
The Affordable Care Act fundamentally changed the landscape of the U.S. health care system. With more than five years since the law’s passage, questions remain about how to fix a system that remains broken despite recent reform efforts. Did the Affordable Care Act adequately reform a failing health system, or did that prescription only treat the symptoms of a much larger illness?
The affects of government budgets on inequalitiesCCPANS
This presentation was part of a lunch and learn hosted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS and the Community Coalition to End Poverty NS entitled Where’s the Social and Economic Justice in Recent Government Budgets? Other panelists included Wayne MacNaughton from the Community Advocates Network and Sheri Lecker from Adsum for Women in Children.
This presentation was given October 18, 2010 by by Professor Nora Silver, Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley, Harumitsu Inouye, CEO of the Shinnyo-en Foundation, and Professor Jim Lincoln also of Haas.
IBEW, Utility Industry Meet in the Middle - Marc Aisenjeremyreeds
In June, the Nielsen work force voted 14 to 6 in favor of union representation by Jersey City, N.J., Local 164. Lead Organizer Marc Aisen worked with Region 1 Coordinator Steve Rockafellow and Local 164 Organizer Steve Clay on the campaign.
The Affordable Care Act fundamentally changed the landscape of the U.S. health care system. With more than five years since the law’s passage, questions remain about how to fix a system that remains broken despite recent reform efforts. Did the Affordable Care Act adequately reform a failing health system, or did that prescription only treat the symptoms of a much larger illness?
The affects of government budgets on inequalitiesCCPANS
This presentation was part of a lunch and learn hosted by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives-NS and the Community Coalition to End Poverty NS entitled Where’s the Social and Economic Justice in Recent Government Budgets? Other panelists included Wayne MacNaughton from the Community Advocates Network and Sheri Lecker from Adsum for Women in Children.
A webinar presentation by Geoffrey Plague, Independent Sector, to the chief development officers from National Health Council member organizations. October 3, 2011
Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery: Stimulus Funding OpportunitiesAlliance To Save Energy
February 2. 2009 -- Policy makers and others have come to understand the power of energy efficiency implementation as an economic development tool and stimulus. The result is likely billions in clean energy investments by the federal government that will be utilized by state and local governments, non-profit energy organizations, and others. In her presentation, Kateri focused on the efforts of the Alliance to Save Energy and others to grow energy efficiency implementation programs – buildings, products, and services – and deliver greater economic vitality to the nation.
A presentation from a November 2011 webinar hosted by compensation and law experts from INTEGRATED Healthcare Strategies and Eptein Becker Green.
See more at: http://www.integratedhealthcarestrategies.com/knowledgecenter.aspx
Each year, plan administrators and trustees,elected,
municipal and school district officials and industry profesionals meet and discuss the issues that are most critical to the success of
public pension plans.
Presentation will help with how the supporters can help their non-profit and help themselves at the same time. Knowing this is all accomplished without anyone having to reach into their pockets
In this webinar we discussed the Good Home Inquiry’s findings and recommendations, the policy priorities of the public and the next steps needed to improve our homes and improve the lives of millions of people.
Find out more: https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/events/good-home-inquiry-report-launch
This webinar is Part I of a two-part series from the Low Income Energy Network (LIEN) on the Ontario Energy Board's (OEB) Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). It reviews LIEN's energy poverty strategy and looks at LEAP emergency financial assistance, more flexible customer service rules, and compliance and enforcement issues. The webinar includes presentations by OEB and LIEN staff.
Deven Ghelani, Director and founder of Policy in Practice, was invited to speak at the CIVEA Annual Conference 2019 on the topic of personal debt and financial resilience.
In his session ahead of the Q&A with the panel Deven talked about the general impact of welfare policies on our living standards, the Cabinet Office's Re-imagine Debt programme and government's recognition of this and then Policy in Practice's new research on transitioning to Universal Credit.
For further information visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk, call 0330 088 9242 or email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk
A webinar presentation by Geoffrey Plague, Independent Sector, to the chief development officers from National Health Council member organizations. October 3, 2011
Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery: Stimulus Funding OpportunitiesAlliance To Save Energy
February 2. 2009 -- Policy makers and others have come to understand the power of energy efficiency implementation as an economic development tool and stimulus. The result is likely billions in clean energy investments by the federal government that will be utilized by state and local governments, non-profit energy organizations, and others. In her presentation, Kateri focused on the efforts of the Alliance to Save Energy and others to grow energy efficiency implementation programs – buildings, products, and services – and deliver greater economic vitality to the nation.
A presentation from a November 2011 webinar hosted by compensation and law experts from INTEGRATED Healthcare Strategies and Eptein Becker Green.
See more at: http://www.integratedhealthcarestrategies.com/knowledgecenter.aspx
Each year, plan administrators and trustees,elected,
municipal and school district officials and industry profesionals meet and discuss the issues that are most critical to the success of
public pension plans.
Presentation will help with how the supporters can help their non-profit and help themselves at the same time. Knowing this is all accomplished without anyone having to reach into their pockets
In this webinar we discussed the Good Home Inquiry’s findings and recommendations, the policy priorities of the public and the next steps needed to improve our homes and improve the lives of millions of people.
Find out more: https://www.ageing-better.org.uk/events/good-home-inquiry-report-launch
This webinar is Part I of a two-part series from the Low Income Energy Network (LIEN) on the Ontario Energy Board's (OEB) Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). It reviews LIEN's energy poverty strategy and looks at LEAP emergency financial assistance, more flexible customer service rules, and compliance and enforcement issues. The webinar includes presentations by OEB and LIEN staff.
Deven Ghelani, Director and founder of Policy in Practice, was invited to speak at the CIVEA Annual Conference 2019 on the topic of personal debt and financial resilience.
In his session ahead of the Q&A with the panel Deven talked about the general impact of welfare policies on our living standards, the Cabinet Office's Re-imagine Debt programme and government's recognition of this and then Policy in Practice's new research on transitioning to Universal Credit.
For further information visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk, call 0330 088 9242 or email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk
In this training, we will educate and prepare business leaders to be effective advocates for your issues. Here's what you will learn:
Plan an in-person meeting with policy makers
How to prepare and research for in-person meetings
Execute a successful meeting with policy makers
Post-meeting outreach
Get your message to policy makers when you can't meet in person (outside-in approach)
An overview of water policy where business advocacy can be effective
Speakers:
Melanie Smith - Executive Director of the Delaware Sustainable Business Council, CEO of Sustainable World Strategies, former member of the Delaware House of Representatives
Frank Knapp - CEO of the South Carolina Small Business Chamber of Commerce, Owner of the Knapp Agency
Colton Fagundes - Policy Associate at American Sustainable Business Council
2009 Deuel County Housing Assessment Updated Key Findings 1stJoan Sacrison
This Housing Assessment was conducted and presented by Brian Hoffman, the Executive Director at the time. She since left her position in 2011. This is the housing assessment that presented at that time. I believe the date was 7/2009.
This powerpoint reviews what’s at stake in the Budget showdown with clear slides and narrative. It reviews the four principles progressives have joined together to fight for and action steps you can take get involved and make a difference. This powerpoint includes some additional information about the Showdown and Pentagon spending cuts and makes the case for reducing our military spending.
NHS-FPX6008 - Economics and Decision Making in Health CareAssess (2).docxpauline234567
NHS-FPX6008 - Economics and Decision Making in Health Care
Assessment 4 Instructions: Lobbying for Change
Top of Form
Bottom of Form
Write a letter to an official in your state or local government. (Choose the individual in the level of government that will best address your issue). The purpose of this letter is to advocate for action with regards to your chosen health care environment issue.
Introduction
Note: Each assessment in this course builds upon the work you have completed in previous assessments. Therefore, you must complete the assessments in the order in which they are presented.
As health care leaders, it is important to understand strategies for advocating and lobbying elected officials. This can lead to the development of policies or laws that can help drive improved equity and outcomes for all participants in the health care environment as well as a more sustainable financial future.
Background and Context
As a master's-level health care practitioner, you may be expected to implement plans to ensure that initiatives designed to take advantage of economic opportunities for the organization are rolled out successfully and can be sustained over multiple years. Additionally, it is important to be able to envision how an initiative could be implemented in different contexts and for different purposes to ensure the investment remains a viable and positive asset to your organization or care setting.
As a master's-level practitioner, you will often be challenged to influence the health care environment in a variety of ways. This influence can occur on a micro-level (implementing change on your unit, institution, community, or local organizations) or at a macro level (implementing change via state or federal regulations and policy). One way you can influence the health care environment is by lobbying an elected official at the local, state, or national level to adopt policies or legislation that would support positive economic and health outcomes for patients, practitioners, and organizations within the health care environment.
Instructions
For this assessment, you will develop a letter to an official in your state or local government (choose the individual in the level of government that will best address your issue). The purpose of this letter is to advocate for action with regards to your chosen health care environment issue. Remember, when writing the letter, you must use your personal address and telephone number unless you are exclusively representing a group or your organization.
Be sure to address each main point. Review the assessment instructions and scoring guide, including performance-level descriptions for each criterion, to ensure you understand the work you will be asked to complete and how it will be assessed. In addition, note the requirements for document format and length and for supporting evidence.
Overall, your assessment submission will be assessed on the following criteria:
· Summarize the health care economic i.
PA 513AssignmentDue date 29th of AugstUnit 1-Discussion.docxalfred4lewis58146
PA 513
Assignment
Due date: 29th of Augst
Unit 1-Discussion:
Discussion (25 points) - Required – • Discussion: During this semester you will be developing a policy recommendation on a topic that is of interest to you. Identify three potential topics that you may explore.
• Discussion response: Respond to two of your classmates and indicate any reactions you have to any of the topics they are considering.
And respond to thos students :
A-
Through the Evaluation processes and policies the government can guard against a declining economy ,health care ,and improve the community. I am excited to research about :
1-The violence in US:
Mental health treatment for people with mental conditions.
Sensible gun laws.
Reduce exposure of children to violence in US.
2- Health Care for the aging in KSA
Increased Eldercare and improve the health care in ksa.
Increase in the retirement age for different professions .
3- Crisis Housing in US:
The Obama Care these policies could be used to make housing more affordable in the US.
Lower interest rates. Lower interest rates will lead to cheaper mortgages.
Credit easing as a remedy to housing crisis
B-
1. One of my interests is in assisting low-income families by improving their housing situation. Another is in improving household energy efficiency. I would like to develop a program/policy that provides incentives for low-income homeowners and landlords that rent to low-income people to invest in making their home energy efficient. If successful, the household energy consumption of low income people would decrease. I would do this with tax incentives for the property owners. For landlords I would offer tax credits for energy improvements for each year they rent to low income people. For low-income owners it would be necessary to develop up front financing, or to tap into some of the mechanisms that have recently been developed. To measure, energy use can be tracked through the power provider.
2. Development in cities has tended to create sprawl. I think you could discourage sprawl by making it more costly to build in suburban areas by requiring these projects pay higher costs for the public infrastructure that must be installed to service new areas. On the flip side of this, you could encourage development where it is more appropriate by offering tax incentives and//or lower costs for infrastructure improvements. If successful, there would be fewer permits issued in suburbs and more issued for work in urban areas. The development activity could be measured by permits issued, fees collected, or tax incentives used.
3. I heard on NPR recently that for kids in the KCMO school district there are only 30% of families with internet access. I would like to put wireless access points in low income areas of KC, so all kids have access. To accomplish this, I would require internet providers in the city to install access points in low income areas, with the number they provide determined by the propo.
Digital Money Maker Club – von Gunnar Kessler digital.focsh890
Title One is a comprehensive examination of the impact of digital technologies on
modern society. In a world where technology continues to advance rapidly, this article delves into the nuances and complexities of the digital age, exploring Its implications across various sectors and aspects of life.
Videos are more engaging, more memorable, and more popular than any other type of content out there. That’s why it’s estimated that 82% of consumer traffic will come from videos by 2025.
And with videos evolving from landscape to portrait and experts promoting shorter clips, one thing remains constant – our brains LOVE videos.
So is there science behind what makes people absolutely irresistible on camera?
The answer: definitely yes.
In this jam-packed session with Stephanie Garcia, you’ll get your hands on a steal-worthy guide that uncovers the art and science to being irresistible on camera. From body language to words that convert, she’ll show you how to captivate on command so that viewers are excited and ready to take action.
Search Engine Marketing - Competitor and Keyword researchETMARK ACADEMY
Over 2 Trillion searches are made per day in Google search, which means there are more than 2 Trillion visits happening across the websites of the world wide web.
People search various questions, phrases or words. But some words and phrases are searched
more often than others.
For example, the words, ‘running shoes’ are searched more often than ‘best road running
shoes for men’
These words or phrases which people use to search on Google are called Keywords.
Some keywords are searched more often than others. Number of times a keyword is searched
for in a month is called keyword volume.
Some keywords have more relevant results than others. For the phrase “running shoes” we
get more than 80M relevant results, whereas for “best road running shoes for men” we get
only 8.
The former keyword ‘running shoes’ has way more competition from popular websites to
new and small blogs, whereas the latter keyword doesn’t have that much competition. This
search competition for a keyword is called search difficulty of a keyword or keyword
difficulty.
In other words, if the keyword difficulty is ‘low’ or ‘easy’, there won’t be any competition
and if you target such keywords on your site, you can easily rank on the front page of Google.
Some keywords are searched for, just to know or to learn some information about something,
that’s their search intention. For example, “What shoe size should I choose?” or “How to pick
the right shoe size?”
These keywords which are searched just to know about stuff are called informational
keywords. Typically people who are searching this type of keywords are top of a Conversion
funnel.
Conversion funnel is the journey that search visitors go through on their way to an email
subscription or a premium subscription to the services you offer or a purchase of products
you sell or recommend using your referral link.
For some buyers, research is the most important part when they have to buy a product.
Depending on that, their journey either widens or narrows down. These types of buyers are
Researchers and they spend more time with informational keywords.
Conversion is the action you want from your search visitors. Number of conversions that you
get for every 100 search visitors is called Conversion rate.
People who are at different stages of a conversion funnel use different types of keywords.
Mastering Local SEO for Service Businesses in the AI Era is tailored specifically for local service providers like plumbers, dentists, and others seeking to dominate their local search landscape. This session delves into leveraging AI advancements to enhance your online visibility and search rankings through the Content Factory model, designed for creating high-impact, SEO-driven content. Discover the Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy, a cost-effective approach to boost your local SEO efforts and attract more customers with minimal investment. Gain practical insights on optimizing your online presence to meet the specific needs of local service seekers, ensuring your business not only appears but stands out in local searches. This concise, action-oriented workshop is your roadmap to navigating the complexities of digital marketing in the AI age, driving more leads, conversions, and ultimately, success for your local service business.
Key Takeaways:
Embrace AI for Local SEO: Learn to harness the power of AI technologies to optimize your website and content for local search. Understand the pivotal role AI plays in analyzing search trends and consumer behavior, enabling you to tailor your SEO strategies to meet the specific demands of your target local audience. Leverage the Content Factory Model: Discover the step-by-step process of creating SEO-optimized content at scale. This approach ensures a steady stream of high-quality content that engages local customers and boosts your search rankings. Get an action guide on implementing this model, complete with templates and scheduling strategies to maintain a consistent online presence. Maximize ROI with Dollar-a-Day Advertising: Dive into the cost-effective Dollar-a-Day advertising strategy that amplifies your visibility in local searches without breaking the bank. Learn how to strategically allocate your budget across platforms to target potential local customers effectively. The session includes an action guide on setting up, monitoring, and optimizing your ad campaigns to ensure maximum impact with minimal investment.
For too many years marketing and sales have operated in silos...while in some forward thinking companies, the two organizations work together to drive new opportunity development and revenue. This session will explore the lessons learned in that beautiful dance that can occur when marketing and sales work together...to drive new opportunity development, account expansion and customer satisfaction.
No, this is not a conversation about MQLs and SQLs. Instead we will focus on a framework that allows the two organizations to drive company success together.
SMM Cheap - No. 1 SMM panel in the worldsmmpanel567
Boost your social media marketing with our SMM Panel services offering SMM Cheap services! Get cost-effective services for your business and increase followers, likes, and engagement across all social media platforms. Get affordable services perfect for businesses and influencers looking to increase their social proof. See how cheap SMM strategies can help improve your social media presence and be a pro at the social media game.
The What, Why & How of 3D and AR in Digital CommercePushON Ltd
Vladimir Mulhem has over 20 years of experience in commercialising cutting edge creative technology across construction, marketing and retail.
Previously the founder and Tech and Innovation Director of Creative Content Works working with the likes of Next, John Lewis and JD Sport, he now helps retailers, brands and agencies solve challenges of applying the emerging technologies 3D, AR, VR and Gen AI to real-world problems.
In this webinar, Vladimir will be covering the following topics:
Applications of 3D and AR in Digital Commerce,
Benefits of 3D and AR,
Tools to create, manage and publish 3D and AR in Digital Commerce.
In this presentation, Danny Leibrandt explains the impact of AI on SEO and what Google has been doing about it. Learn how to take your SEO game to the next level and win over Google with his new strategy anyone can use. Get actionable steps to rank your name, your business, and your clients on Google - the right way.
Key Takeaways:
1. Real content is king
2. Find ways to show EEAT
3. Repurpose across all platforms
Core Web Vitals SEO Workshop - improve your performance [pdf]Peter Mead
Core Web Vitals to improve your website performance for better SEO results with CWV.
CWV Topics include:
- Understanding the latest Core Web Vitals including the significance of LCP, INP and CLS + their impact on SEO
- Optimisation techniques from our experts on how to improve your CWV on platforms like WordPress and WP Engine
- The impact of user experience and SEO
Most small businesses struggle to see marketing results. In this session, we will eliminate any confusion about what to do next, solving your marketing problems so your business can thrive. You’ll learn how to create a foundational marketing OS (operating system) based on neuroscience and backed by real-world results. You’ll be taught how to develop deep customer connections, and how to have your CRM dynamically segment and sell at any stage in the customer’s journey. By the end of the session, you’ll remove confusion and chaos and replace it with clarity and confidence for long-term marketing success.
Key Takeaways:
• Uncover the power of a foundational marketing system that dynamically communicates with prospects and customers on autopilot.
• Harness neuroscience and Tribal Alignment to transform your communication strategies, turning potential clients into fans and those fans into loyal customers.
• Discover the art of automated segmentation, pinpointing your most lucrative customers and identifying the optimal moments for successful conversions.
• Streamline your business with a content production plan that eliminates guesswork, wasted time, and money.
SEO as the Backbone of Digital MarketingFelipe Bazon
In this talk Felipe Bazon will share how him and his team at Hedgehog Digital share our journey of making C-Levels alike, specially CMOS realize that SEO is the backbone of digital marketing by showing how SEO can contribute to brand awareness, reputation and authority and above all how to use SEO to create more robust global marketing strategies.
In this presentation, Danny Leibrandt explains the impact of AI on SEO and what Google has been doing about it. Learn how to take your SEO game to the next level and win over Google with his new strategy anyone can use. Get actionable steps to rank your name, your business, and your clients on Google - the right way.
Key Takeaways:
1. Real content is king
2. Find ways to show EEAT
3. Repurpose across all platforms
A.I. (artificial intelligence) platforms are popping up all the time, and many of them can and should be used to help grow your brand, increase your sales and decrease your marketing costs.In this presentation:We will review some of the best AI platforms that are available for you to use.We will interact with some of the platforms in real-time, so attendees can see how they work.We will also look at some current brands that are using AI to help them create marketing messages, saving them time and money in the process. Lastly, we will discuss the pros and cons of using AI in marketing & branding and have a lively conversation that includes comments from the audience.
Key Takeaways:
Attendees will learn about LLM platforms, like ChatGPT, and how they work, with preset examples and real time interactions with the platform. Attendees will learn about other AI platforms that are creating graphic design elements at the push of a button...pre-set examples and real-time interactions.Attendees will discuss the pros & cons of AI in marketing + branding and share their perspectives with one another. Attendees will learn about the cost savings and the time savings associated with using AI, should they choose to.
Most small businesses struggle to see marketing results. In this session, we will eliminate any confusion about what to do next, solving your marketing problems so your business can thrive. You’ll learn how to create a foundational marketing OS (operating system) based on neuroscience and backed by real-world results. You’ll be taught how to develop deep customer connections, and how to have your CRM dynamically segment and sell at any stage in the customer’s journey. By the end of the session, you’ll remove confusion and chaos and replace it with clarity and confidence for long-term marketing success.
Key Takeaways:
• Uncover the power of a foundational marketing system that dynamically communicates with prospects and customers on autopilot.
• Harness neuroscience and Tribal Alignment to transform your communication strategies, turning potential clients into fans and those fans into loyal customers.
• Discover the art of automated segmentation, pinpointing your most lucrative customers and identifying the optimal moments for successful conversions.
• Streamline your business with a content production plan that eliminates guesswork, wasted time, and money.
When most people in the industry talk about online or digital reputation management, what they're really saying is Google search and PPC. And it's usually reactive, left dealing with the aftermath of negative information published somewhere online. That's outdated. It leaves executives, organizations and other high-profile individuals at a high risk of a digital reputation attack that spans channels and tactics. But the tools needed to safeguard against an attack are more cybersecurity-oriented than most marketing and communications professionals can manage. Business leaders Leaders grasp the importance; 83% of executives place reputation in their top five areas of risk, yet only 23% are confident in their ability to address it. To succeed in 2024 and beyond, you need to turn online reputation on its axis and think like an attacker.\
Key Takeaways:
- New framework for examining and safeguarding an online reputation
- Tools and techniques to keep you a step ahead
- Practical examples that demonstrate when to act, how to act and how to recover
Turn Digital Reputation Threats into Offense Tactics - Daniel Lemin
RETI Advocacy Manual
1. A Guide to Advocating for Energy Equity
Empowering
North Carolina
REE N E RRENEWABLE
Renewable Energy
Transition Initiative
RETI
2. RETI is Solving the Heat or Eat Dilemma
for North Carolina’s Energy Poor
When families with limited financial means are faced with high-energy bills they can’t afford, they have to make se-
rious choices about the bills they pay each month. They may have to cut back on essentials like food, medicine, and
transportation in order to keep the lights and heat on.
This heat or eat dilemma facing many North Carolina residents happens when they pay a disproportionate portion of
their incomes on their energy expenses—usually more than 10 percent.
Many low-income families in North Carolina spend 20percent or more each month on these costs. In fact, more than
1.5 million households needed assistance to pay their energy bills in the past year thanks in part to energy poverty.
However, only about 1 in 10 of those households received the life-saving assistance they needed—and usually for only
one month on average.
That’s why RETI, the Renewable Energy Transition Initiative, is working to reduce energy poverty in North Carolina by:
• Decreasing the energy costs of low-income families through the adoption of renewable, clean-energy technologies
• Educating residents on renewable energy solutions and encouraging the use of energy-efficient technologies
This guide will help you advocate for energy equity for all North Carolinians, which makes
energy-efficient solutions available to all families.
3. What is Energy Poverty?
Energy is an increasingly important social and public health concern for more and more North Carolinians.
As costs for residential heating, cooling, and other household energy needs increase significantly, they account for a
greater percentage of household budgets. This is referred to as energy poverty or energy insecurity.
Those impacted by energy insecurity allocate a higher share of their incomes to their utility expenses—partly because
of rising energy costs and partly because of the energy inefficiencies of many lower income homes.
Low-income homes tend to be older homes with appliances that are not energy efficient and lack proper insulation to
slow heat loss in colder months.
The energy poor may be homeowners who are unable to invest in energy-efficient upgrades because of high up-front
costs or may be renters living in homes where landlords do not pay the utility bills and thus have little incentive to
create more energy-efficient units.
North Carolina Energy Poverty Facts & Figures*
of their annual incomes
on energy bills
29%
286,539 households living
below 50% of the federal
poverty level spent
of their annual incomes
on energy bills
16%
371,583 households living
within 50-100% of the
federal poverty level spent
of their annual incomes
on energy bills
11%
207,464 households living
within 100-125% of the
federal poverty level spent
The Federal Home Energy Assistance Program helped cover 90,528 heating and cooling bills for
low-income households in 2016.
*Source: Home Energy Affordability Gap 2016, Fisher, Sheehand & Colton
About Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency
Using renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass to generate more of the
country’s electricity can:
• Reduce global-warming CO2 emissions and related health issues, including breathing problems, neurological
disorders, heart attacks, and cancer
• Improve the economy by creating jobs: On average, more jobs are created for each unit of electricity generated
from renewable energy sources.
• Help stabilize energy prices in the future because of its renewability
Increasing energy efficiency in lower income housing is a practical solution for reducing energy poverty. Less
energy-efficient homes and appliances use more energy to perform the same function as their more energy-efficient
counterparts. Here are some ways to increase energy efficiency in lower income housing:
• Use Energy Star appliances, which guarantees a certain level of energy efficiency
• Take advantage of tax savings for making energy-efficient upgrades to appliances, windows, and doors
• Add insulation to your walls and attic to prevent loss of warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer
4. “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
Advocacy 101: How to Advocate
for Energy Equity in North Carolina
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy simply means actively supporting a cause and trying to get others to support it as well—particularly govern-
ment officials who can create and change laws.
Advocacy is one of the most effective approaches to generating energy equity across all populations in North Carolina.
Plus, it’s something you as an individual citizen or group of citizens can do to help others.
Legislators need to know what’s happening in the communities they represent. You can provide them with valuable in-
formation and insight on a particular issue by sharing how it impacts individual citizens and the community as a whole
ABCs of Advocacy: Ask for something specific
Be persistent | Courtesy is key—be professional and gracious.
5. Starting an Advocacy Campaign
Before any advocacy campaign begins, you need to have a plan of action to accomplish the goals you have
in mind. Here are five key questions to consider when working on your plan:
Once you have answered these questions, make sure you write down the details of your plan and establish a
timeline for action. Your campaign will be most effective if you make a coordinated effort to target change.
What Do They Need to Hear?
An advocacy campaign must have a clear, consistent, and persuasive message for the target. It’s
important to aim your messages specifically for each government official you are meeting with
based on their political ideologies and policy history.
Whom Do They Need to Hear It From?
The same message will have a very different impact depending on who communicates it. In
general, an advocacy campaign should have messengers with credibility as experts, some who
can speak from personal experience, and others who have connections with the person or
group you have targeted
3
4
How Can You Get Them to Hear It?
Advocacy campaigns can deliver their message in many different ways, such as in-person visits,
letters, emails, phone calls, and petitions. You need to look at all your options and determine a
mix that has the potential to create the most optimal results.5
What Do You Want to Achieve?
An advocacy campaign must begin with a clear sense of what you aim to achieve. Your initial
objective, such as increasing energy efficiency in multifamily housing or creating solar farms
to offset energy costs for the energy poor, should be specific and attainable in a specified
period of time
Who Can Give It to You?
The primary audience for your advocacy campaigns should be the people who have the author-
ity to give you what you want. In this case, your audience will be state and federal legislators
who can make laws and policies that can decrease the number of energy poor and increase
energy equity in North Carolina. Carolina.
1
2
To determine who your state senator or representative is, visit
www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx
6. Communicating with Your Legislator
Your advocacy plan should take a multi-pronged approach that includes in-person visits, handwritten letters, indi-
vidual emails, phone calls, and social media. In-person visits tend to be the most effective tool at your disposal when
advocating for or against specific legislation.
Setting Up a Visit
Contact the scheduler in your legislator’s office to make an appointment with your congressman or senator or a staff
member who covers your issue. Let them know the dates you are available, the issue you want to discuss, and who
will be present during the visit. Make sure you identify yourself as a constituent in their district to get scheduling
priority. Be sure to confirm a day or two in advance of the visit.
Making Your Visit
A good rule of thumb is to have a specific agenda for your meeting and to select a primary spokesperson for your
group. You will want to have a list of talking points to help guide the conversation, which includes the key messages
and stories you identified in your five questions. Be sure to use personal experiences and make your ask within the
first five minutes of the meeting in case it gets cut short.
End on a positive note, thanking the legislator or staffer for their time and leaving behind a short written summary of
your issue. Then follow up with a thank-you letter a few days later.
Tips for Calling
• Ask to speak to the staff member who covers the particular issue you want to address.
• Identify yourself as a constituent and a person of faith.
• Clearly and briefly state your position on the issue.
• Thank the staff person for his/her time and follow up with a letter.
Tips for Writing a Letter or Emailing
• State your purpose for writing in the first sentence.
• Then identify your issue and make a specific request.
• Focus on only one issue per message.
• Personalize the message. Identify why it matters to you and include a story that illustrates how it impacts your
community.
• Ask specific questions, which may prompt something more than a form letter in reply.
7. About the North Carolina Legislature
North Carolina is governed by three branches of government: the legislative branch, the executive branch, and the
judicial branch. The legislative branch is composed of the General Assembly, which has to the authority to:
• Make new laws and amend or repeal laws that affect state citizens and communities
• Establish rules and regulations governing the conduct of the people, their rights, duties, and procedures
• To prescribe the consequences of certain activities
The General Assembly has two houses; a 50-member Senate and a 120-member House of Representatives. Members
are elected for two-year terms. It also has a number of Legislative Committees, with representatives from the House or
Senate, that decide if legislation will be subject to vote by the General Assembly.
Legislative Sessions
The General Assembly meets in regular session beginning in January of each odd-numbered year and adjourns to
reconvene the following even-numbered year for a shorter session.
The Senate and the House of Representatives meet in their respective chambers on Monday evenings; at 1:30 p.m.
on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday; and on Friday mornings. The members return to their districts to take care of
their affairs and meet with constituents during the weekend.
During the week, committee meetings are held in the morning and late afternoon. A great deal of the legislative work
is done in the committee meetings.
To determine your state Senator or Representative, visit the NC General Assembly website.
www.ncleg.net/representation/WhoRepresentsMe.aspx
Looking for Advocacy Resources?
RETI has a complete library of talking
points, planning materials, and letters
and emails to help you with your
advocacy efforts.
You’ll also find information on specific
energy-related legislation pending in
North Carolina’s General Assembly.
www.retiset.org/library
Appointment Request
The Honorable [Legislator Name]
North Carolina General Assembly
Raleigh, N.C.
Dear [Representative or Senator Last Name]:
I am a constituent in your district and would like to set up a time to meet with you regarding energy equity in
North Carolina. I am a citizen concerned over the number of people in our state that pay a disproportionate
amount of their monthly incomes for energy costs—usually 10 percent or more. This is known as energy
poverty.
When families with limited financial means are faced with high-energy bills they can’t afford, they have to make
serious choices about the bills they pay each month. They may have to cut back on essentials like food,
medicine, and transportation in order to keep the lights and heat on.
I would like to discuss how we can help these energy poor families through legislation that promotes lower
energy costs and energy efficiency and increases the availability of renewable energy solutions across the state. I
am available to meet with you at your district office in [location] on [date(s)].
Thank you in advance for your consideration of this meeting request. I will contact your office soon to
determine your availability. Or you may contact me at [phone number] or [e-mail address].
Best,
[Your First and Last Name]
[Address]
RETIINITIATIVETRANSITIONE N E R G YRENEWABLE
Fact Sheet on Energy Equity
An Introduction to Energy Poverty
Energy is an increasingly important social and public
health concern for more and more North Carolinians.
As costs for residential heating, cooling, and other
household energy needs increase significantly, they
account for a greater percentage of household budgets.
This is referred to as energy poverty or energy insecurity.
Those impacted by energy insecurity allocate a higher
share of their incomes to their utility expenses—partly
because of rising energy costs and partly because of the
energy inefficiencies of many lower income homes.
Low-income homes tend to be older homes with
appliances that are not energy efficient and lack proper
insulation to slow heat loss in colder months.
The energy poor may be homeowners who are unable to
invest in energy-efficient upgrades because of high up-
front costs or may be renters living in homes where
landlords do not pay the utility bills and thus have little
incentive to create more energy-efficient units.
How Energy Poverty Impacts N. Carolina
When families with limited financial means are faced
with high-energy bills they can’t afford, they have to
make serious choices about the bills they pay each
month. They may have to cut back on essentials like
food, medicine, and transportation in order to keep the
lights and heat on.
This heat or eat dilemma facing many North Carolina
residents happens when they pay a disproportionate
portion of their incomes on their energy expenses—
usually more than 10 percent.
Many low-income families in North Carolina spend 20
percent or more each month on these costs. In fact, more
than 1.5 million households needed assistance to pay
their energy bills in the past year thanks in part to energy
poverty.
However, only about 1 in 10 of those households
received the life-saving assistance they needed—and
usually for only one month on average.
N. Carolina Energy Poverty
Facts & Figures*
• 286,539 households living below 50% of the
federal poverty level spent 29% of their annual
incomes on energy bills
• 371,583 households living within 50-100% of the
federal poverty level spent 16% of their annual
incomes on energy bills
• 207,464 households living within 100-125% of
the federal poverty level spent 11% of their
annual incomes on energy bills
The Federal Home Energy Assistance Program
helped cover 90,528 heating and cooling bills for
low-income households in 2016.
About Renewable Energy
Using renewable energy sources like wind, solar,
geothermal, hydroelectric, and biomass to generate more
of the country’s electricity can:
• Reduce global-warming CO2 emissions and related
health issues, including breathing problems,
neurological disorders, heart attacks, and cancer
• Improve the economy by creating jobs: On average,
more jobs are created for each unit of electricity
generated from renewable energy sources.
• Help stabilize energy prices in the future because of
its renewability
RETIINITIATIVETRANSITIONE N E R G YRENEWABLE
8. RETIINITIATIVETRANSITIONE N E R G YRENEWABLE
Renewable Energy
Transition Initiative
RETI
www.retiset.org
704-614-6631 | HI@RETISET.ORG