Published May 13, 2026
“Recognition is the first step to justice,” says Diana Hernández, sociologist and co-author of Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy.
In the United States, more than 1 in 3 households struggle with energy insecurity, according to a new federal report. And as energy costs rise, many more households face higher utility bills and struggle to maintain healthy temperatures in their homes.
In this episode of Building Tomorrow, Diana Hernández joins Urban Green’s Rebecca Elzinga and Jada Shannon for a special conversation about energy insecurity. Hernández is a leading expert on equity, housing and health, and a pioneer in the study of this issue. Alongside co-author Jennifer Laird, she has met with homeowners and tenants across America to better understand the barriers to energy access and its impact on quality of life.
Listen in to learn about the dimensions of energy insecurity and discover how building professionals might address this growing issue.
Thank you to our podcast sponsor, Carrier!
Speakers
Diana Hernández
Dr. Diana Hernández conducts research at the intersection of energy, equity, housing and health. Dr. Hernández has published over 75 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters in leading academic journals such as Social Science & Medicine, Journal of Urban Health and Energy Policy. Professor Hernandez also teaches graduate-level courses on qualitative research methods, design and analysis; public health leadership; and energy justice. She is a Mayoral Appointee to NYC’s Environmental Justice Advisory Board. Dr. Hernandez has written for and been featured in various media outlets, including the NY Times, USA Today, BBC, NY Daily News and CityLab.
Rebecca Elzinga
Manager, Education Development, LEED GA
Becca supports Urban Green’s flagship education programs by developing curriculum to teach architects, engineers, construction workers and building operators the latest in green building practices. Prior to joining Urban Green, Becca worked at Partnerships for Parks training grassroots volunteers across NYC to advocate and care for their local parks and greenspaces. Becca holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver, a B.A. in Environmental Policy from Fordham University, and was a 2023 Fellow with the Clean Energy Leadership Institute.
Jada Shannon
Coordinator, Communications
Jada coordinates the communications strategy at Urban Green, with a focus on website content, the weekly newsletter, and social media. Prior, she assisted with press communications at VOCAL-NY, a non-profit organization that builds power in low-income communities. Jada holds a B.A. in Media Studies and Women and Gender Studies from Hunter College.
Transcript
The transcript is in progress and coming soon.
Resources
–> Check out the book, Powerless: The People’s Struggle for Energy by Diana Hernandez and Jennifer Laird.
–> Explore the latest federal reports on energy consumption: Residential Energy Conservation Survey
–> Read Hernandez’s analysis of the latest federal figures on energy insecurity, an issue brief by the National Consumer Law Center.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider becoming a member of Urban Green, and subscribing to our podcast for more insightful conversations on building a sustainable future.
Hashtags: #ClimateGoals #BuildingDecarbonization #EnergyEfficiency
Building Tomorrow: Conversations with Climate Solvers
Building Tomorrow demystifies complex ideas about buildings, and introduces you to the people doing the work!
Exploring equitable electrification
Urban Green's Chris Halfnight, Danielle Manley and Adam Schiabor sat down to discuss our latest analysis on equitable electrification in NYC.
Climate, equity and health: No more false choices
Our 2021 conference explored the ways we can optimize policy and building design to advance climate, equity, and health.