Making $1 out of $0.15: A Transformative Mindset for a Cleaner Future
By SaLisa Berrien, Founder and CEO of COI Energy
In the vast landscape of energy discussions, there lies the often overlooked topic — the energy insecurity marginalized communities face. A study from Columbia has found, that media reporting of the disproportionate energy burden experienced by marginalized communities, mainly, black and brown, has been a constant topic in U.S. mainstream media coverage for over 40 years. However, nothing seems to have changed. Thinking of the days when I was a little girl and had to use a kerosene heater because my parents couldn’t afford to pay the electricity bill in Bethlehem, PA. It is hard to imagine that we as a society have progressed so little in this woefully neglected aspect of our energy system since the time of my childhood.
Recent data from 2023 by the U.S. Energy Information Administration found that over a third of American households are experiencing energy insecurity. The term is now defined as families who aren’t able to afford their basic everyday energy needs. These families experience heightened energy burdens due to their often already precarious financial situation and are forced to put themselves and their families in high-risk living situations. Experience I have known all too well.
While the issue of energy insecurity remains unresolved, the world is changing rapidly. As Covid-19 left irreparable scars on our collective psyche about the world we live in, it also fundamentally changed the way we live and work. We have increasingly more of our social and professional lives being migrated to the digital space. With the continuous development of AI, our domestic life and career will become more integrated into an energy-enabled web of relations. To power all this, a reliable supply of energy is needed. Also, such energy needs to be affordable so that marginalized communities can have basic access to energy. All the while, the stake has never been higher. Climate change continues to exacerbate every aspect of our existing unsustainable energy system. As extreme weather events become more frequent, low-income communities across the nation are experiencing increased risk in events of disaster. In July, more than 10k Baltimore residents lost their power following severe thunderstorms.
So what does this mean for you? And for COI Energy?
Drawing from my experience of growing up in an energy-insecure household, I hold a deeply ingrained mindset of savings as a powerful action. Savings, to me, is not just a number on a bill; it’s a verb that embodies frugality and the radical belief that every bit of savings holds the potential for something greater when reinvested — “making a $1 out of $0.15“.
This transformative mindset guided me to launch my first business as a little girl, using the spare change I saved. Now, it drives my work at COI Energy, where we’re not only raising awareness of energy insecurities but actively doing something about it!
With the kW for Good program, we’re incentivizing local businesses to invest in their communities while improving their bottom line. It’s a win-win solution: For every kilowatt we save for a business, at least 1% of the savings goes directly to underrepresented communities most negatively affected by climate change.
Our platform empowers businesses to pay forward their energy savings and alleviate the energy burden for marginalized communities. These contributions are channeled through trusted local non-profit organizations like TECO Shares and the NYC Housing Authority, ensuring they have the greatest impact.
As we navigate the challenges of climate change, companies like COI Energy and passionate individuals offer hope for a future with equitable energy access, transcending socioeconomic barriers. Our mission is to help every business make $1 out of $0.15, ensuring that clean energy is accessible to all. Join us today in creating a more climate-friendly economy for future generations to live, work, play, and thrive! As Michael Jackson implored us to do in his song, Man in the Mirror, “If you wanna make the world a better place, take a look at yourself and then make that…CHANGE!” Together, we can positively impact businesses, the environment, and communities, uplifting everyone during the energy transition.
Good for the Bottom Line. Good for the People. Good for the Planet.
Learn more about how COI Energy is making an impact on businesses, the electric grid, the environment, and marginalized communities through their $1 out of $0.15 mantra. Contact our specialist for a free consultation on your business’s excess energy (E2X) health at hello@coienergy.com or 855.983.4667. We will help you make $1 out of $0.15!
