Rising energy costs hit Houston’s older neighborhoods the hardest

HOUSTON – For many Houston residents, the electric bill has become one of the most painful parts of the month. And researchers say the burden is only getting heavier.

A new study from the Urban Institute finds that households in certain Houston neighborhoods are spending about seven percent of their income on electricity alone.

“They spend more on their energy bills, and this is often because of housing quality issues,” said Anne Junod, a senior researcher at the Urban Institute. “You might have the AC cranking, but if your house has leaky windows or poor insulation, that money’s literally going out the window.”

The study looks at neighborhoods in Houston and Chicago and found that low-income residents in older homes are most at risk. The combination of environmental hazards and risi