Problem Identification Short Paper

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Arizona State University *

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Biology

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Dec 6, 2023

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Amber Olivas SOS 315 Professor Kelman 04/13/2023 Problem Identification Short Paper It is no secret that the world is facing an ongoing and growing energy crisis. Non-renewable resources are becoming scarce and dangerous to obtain thus making them much more costly. The average energy bill in Arizona is $128.40, which is higher than the national average of $111.67 (smartasset.com, 2023). This can be attributed to the high temperatures in Phoenix, reaching an average of over 100°F in the summer months. These high temperatures result in the necessity for air conditioning, which can be expensive to low-income and fixed-income communities. The upper class has always had the generational wealth and resources to live comfortably and by their own means. This is still true to this day, but now there is something they cannot buy. Energy is powered by nonrenewable resources that are running out, and once they are gone, even the richest of people cannot pay to get them back. Sustainable energy is a global issue since we are all affected - ourselves, our children, our grandchildren, and our pets, but trying to solve it at a global level Every living thing is affected by the use of energy. This issue is global, however, it must be broken down if we hope to find a viable solution. Everyone must work together and care about the future of not only themselves but others. Recognizing this is an issue at the local level will start

solving the problem within our own communities. Each community has its own problems and challenges that it faces with creating access to sustainable energy. In Phoenix, the temperatures get very high and we must create ways to distribute a large amount of energy during the summer. In colder places like Seattle where it rains half of the year and creates ice during the winter, producing and distributing energy is faced with a different set of problems. It is the same situation with highly populated places like New York, or widespread places like Wyoming where power must be sent long distances. Once the problems can be fixed at a local level, the goal is to be able to combine these small solutions to create bigger solutions that can be implemented globally. One of the largest and most popular solutions in Phoenix to clean energy is solar panels. The long exposure time to the sun makes solar panels an attractive option. If you drive around Central Phoenix, you will see multiple homes with solar panels installed on the roof and businesses with panels on top of buildings and parking garages. They even have solar farms that consist of a large amount of land covered in solar panels. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, one of the largest solar farms in Arizona is in Coolidge and has the capacity to power over 20,000 homes with the electricity it generates. Low-income households are one of the largest factors in making these solutions work. Solar energy is a great option, but at what cost? The average price to install solar panels in your home in Phoenix is $12,300. There is a

30% tax credit for installing solar panels, but that is not immediate cash and does not cover the whole price. Additionally, solar panels do not start paying for themselves as soon as they are up and running. The average time for them to pay themselves off is 7.5 years (Energysage.com). Yes, they will start helping lower your energy bills right now, but the inital $12,300 invested to get them installed will no be paid back in savings for 7.5 years. Most people, and definitely not low-income or fixed-income people do not have that saved up or available to spend on something that is not immediate. With solar panels out of the question for low-income communities without substantial assistance, there has to be another way to get affordable clean energy. The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) has a Weatherization Assistance Program. This program is designed to help income-eligible families reduce energy bills by implementing energy efficient changes to their home. This includes things like adding insulation, changing old windows to newer ones with energy efficient technology, adding shade to windows exposed to the sun, and much more (housing.az.gov). This program has been in effect since 1977 and has assisted over 7 million homes in getting weatherized. In order to get this assistance, applicants must find specific projects they are wanting to do to their home to improve the energy efficiency. In conclusion, the need for renewable and clean energy is evident. Accessibility of clean energy for everyone is a major part in finding a global

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solution. There are different solutions already proposed and implemented, but there are limitations to everything so far. We must continue to work together to find an equitable solution to the energy crisis in Phoenix, Arizona, the United States, and the world. Works Cited Arizona solar panel cost: Is solar worth it in 2023? EnergySage. (2023). Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.energysage.com/local-data/solar-panel- cost/az/#:~:text=As%20of%20March%202023%2C%20the,Arizona%20coming %20in%20at%20%2412%2C300. Arizona Solar . SEIA. (2022). Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://www.seia.org/state- solar-policy/arizona-solar#:~:text=At%20135%20MW%2C%20Saint %20Solar,power%20more%20than%2020%2C486%20homes. Josephson, A. (2023, April 1). The cost of living in Arizona . SmartAsset. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://smartasset.com/mortgage/the-cost-of-living-in-arizona State of Arizona. (2023). Weatherization assistance program . Weatherization Assistance Program | Arizona Department of Housing. Retrieved April 13, 2023, from https://housing.az.gov/general-public/weatherization-assistance- program#:~:text=The%20Weatherization%20Program%20enables %20income,comfort%2C%20safety%20and%20energy%20efficiency.

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