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Clemson UniversitySociology, Anthropology & Criminal Justice
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Research Objectives

Our project goals for advancing equitable clean energy transitions and community health.

Overview

This project develops a community-centered sociotechnical framework and decision-support tool to help policymakers and researchers assess the multidimensional impacts of extreme weather on low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities. Using participatory approaches and mixed methods, we advance equitable clean energy transitions while building long-term capacity for community resilience and health improvement.

Key Elements

  • Develop a community-centered sociotechnical framework and decision-support tool at both household (micro) and community/policy (macro) levels
  • Assess multidimensional impacts of extreme weather on LMI communities, including social vulnerability, energy insecurity, health outcomes, and psychological well-being
  • Advance localized electrification and weatherization plans through community co-designed, participatory approaches
  • Engage stakeholders throughout design and implementation, aligned with practical assistance policies and innovative clean-energy solutions
  • Train university students and support education and outreach activities that build long-term capacity for equitable energy transitions
  • Integrate transdisciplinary perspectives and mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) to strengthen the evidence base
  • Generate actionable policy insights that can be scaled from local pilots to regional and national applications

Specific Objectives

1

Identify & Explain Bundled Disadvantages

Examine how extreme weather exposure, household energy burdens, power outages, and built environment challenges combine to affect health outcomes in low- and moderate-income communities. The study operationalizes socioeconomic, behavioral, and environmental dimensions of vulnerability.

2

Co-Develop Climate Mitigation Solutions

Work with communities to design clean-energy strategies and evaluate the health co-benefits of integrated weatherization, electrification, and community microgrid adoption.

3

Create Community Co-Designed Pathways

Develop participatory implementation pathways that center local priorities while scaling successful models from local demonstration projects to regional and national applications.

4

Apply Evidence-Based Principles

Ensure meaningful participation across diverse communities by integrating equity, representation, and accountability into research design and community engagement.