Online Survey: Energy Costs and Comfort Issues in Ithaca Rentals

Is your rental unit comfortable and energy efficient?

Sustainable Tompkins is a local nonprofit that has been helping lower-income residents reduce their energy bills since 2010. We are collecting information on how home energy costs and comfort issues are affecting tenants in Ithaca. There are some new sources of state funding to help pay for clean energy improvements, but we need more detailed information about the arrangements between landlords and tenants for utility payments, comfort issues, and your interest in having energy improvements made in your rental. Please fill out our survey and tell us about your home. It should only take 5-6 minutes.

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* 1. Do you live in the City or Town of Ithaca?

City of Ithaca

Town of Ithaca

Neither

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* 2. What is your street address?

House number (plus Apartment if applicable)

Street Name

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* 3. Are you able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature?

Yes

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* 4. If you answered 'No' to question 3, please check all that apply of the following statements.

Some rooms are too cold in the winter

Some rooms are too hot in the winter

Some rooms are uncomfortably hot in the summer

There are uncomfortable drafts in some rooms

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* 5. How often are you able to get sufficient hot water when you need it?

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Rarely

Never

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How is payment for heating and electricity handled for your household?

I pay for both electricity and heating

I pay for my electricity, but the heating is included in the rent

The electricity and heating costs are included in the rent

Other arrangement (please specify)

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* 7. What is the main source of heat in your home?

Natural gas

Electric

Propane

Fuel Oil

Firewood

Heat Pump

I don't know

Is there a supplementary source of heat? If so, please specify.

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* 8. How do you keep cool in your house during a heat wave?

Window air conditioners cool most of house

Central air conditioning

Fans only

Fans and 1-2 window air conditioners

No fans or AC, just manage the heat by drawing blinds or opening windows

I don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 9. How often are you concerned about paying your utility bills?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Often

Always

Not Applicable

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* 10. Do you remember what your household's highest electric and gas utility bill was for this past winter?

Less than $75

$76 - $150

$151 - $300

$301 - $500

Over $500

I don't know or Not Applicable

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* 11. Do you remember the cost of your most recent electric and gas utility bill?

Less than $75

$76 - $150

$151 - $300

$301 - $500

Over $500

I don't know or Not Applicable

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* 12. Are there people in your home with heat sensitivity concerns, such as seniors, infants or toddlers?

Yes

I don't know

If yes, please specify health issue or age of those with heat intolerance.

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* 13. Do people in your household have these particular health issues on an ongoing basis? (Check all that apply.)

Asthma

Chronic sneezing, coughing, congestion

Chronic eye, nose, or throat irritation

Chronic headaches or dizziness

Unexplained fatigue

I don't know

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Do you have any of the following indoor air quality issues in your home? (Check all that apply.)

Molds or mildews

Fumes and bad smells from items such as carpets, furniture, and paints (offgassing)

Noticeable odors or soot from cookstoves, water heaters or furnaces

Poor ventilation or excessive humidity

Contaminants from tobacco, perfume, disinfectants, solvents

Radon (a radioactive gas found in basements)

I don't know

None of the above

Other (please specify)

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* 15. What type of rental unit do you live in?

Single family

Duplex (2 dwelling units in one building)

Triplex (3 dwelling units in one building)

Quadplex (4 dwelling units in one building)

5 or more dwelling units in one building

Other arrangement:

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* 16. Have you needed to talk to your landlord about energy bills or comfort issues?

Yes

If yes, what was the issue and the outcome?

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* 17. If your landlord were to invest in a new clean energy heating system for your rental unit, how easy would it be for your household to accommodate having installers work in your home for 1-2 days?

Extremely difficult

Moderately difficult

Slightly disruptive

Very manageable

No problem at all

Extremely difficult

Moderately difficult

Slightly disruptive

Very manageable

No problem at all

Any specific needs to address?

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* 18. How many people live in your residence (including yourself)?

8 or more

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* 19. How would you rate your personal knowledge of climate and energy issues?

I don't pay much attention to these topics

I read occasional articles on climate and clean energy affairs

8 or more

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* 20. There is significant state and federal funding available for clean energy that is based on household income. We're trying to get a sense of how much financial help is available to help pay for Ithaca's energy upgrades. What is the approximate monthly income of each person contributing to your household's total income?

	$0-$1000	$1001-$2000	$2001-$3000	$3001 - $4000	$4001 - $5000	$5001 - $6000	Over $6000
Yourself	Yourself $0-$1000	Yourself $1001-$2000	Yourself $2001-$3000	Yourself $3001 - $4000	Yourself $4001 - $5000	Yourself $5001 - $6000	Yourself Over $6000
Occupant #2	Occupant #2 $0-$1000	Occupant #2 $1001-$2000	Occupant #2 $2001-$3000	Occupant #2 $3001 - $4000	Occupant #2 $4001 - $5000	Occupant #2 $5001 - $6000	Occupant #2 Over $6000
Occupant #3	Occupant #3 $0-$1000	Occupant #3 $1001-$2000	Occupant #3 $2001-$3000	Occupant #3 $3001 - $4000	Occupant #3 $4001 - $5000	Occupant #3 $5001 - $6000	Occupant #3 Over $6000
Occupant #4	Occupant #4 $0-$1000	Occupant #4 $1001-$2000	Occupant #4 $2001-$3000	Occupant #4 $3001 - $4000	Occupant #4 $4001 - $5000	Occupant #4 $5001 - $6000	Occupant #4 Over $6000
Occupant #5	Occupant #5 $0-$1000	Occupant #5 $1001-$2000	Occupant #5 $2001-$3000	Occupant #5 $3001 - $4000	Occupant #5 $4001 - $5000	Occupant #5 $5001 - $6000	Occupant #5 Over $6000
Occupant #6	Occupant #6 $0-$1000	Occupant #6 $1001-$2000	Occupant #6 $2001-$3000	Occupant #6 $3001 - $4000	Occupant #6 $4001 - $5000	Occupant #6 $5001 - $6000	Occupant #6 Over $6000

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* 21. How many people in your household are college students?

None

5 or more

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* 22. (The following questions are optional.) What is your age?

Under 18

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

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* 23. What is your gender identity?

Woman

Man

Non-Binary

Prefer not to disclose

Prefer to self describe:

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* 24. Which race/ethnicity best describes you?

Asian or Pacific Islander

Black or African American

Native American or Alaskan Native

Hispanic or Latinx

White or Caucasian

Mixed race or biracial

A race/ethnicity not listed here

Prefer not to disclose

Online Survey: Energy Costs and Comfort Issues in Ithaca Rentals

Is your rental unit comfortable and energy efficient?

Question Title

* 1. Do you live in the City or Town of Ithaca?

Question Title

* 2. What is your street address?

Question Title

* 3. Are you able to keep your home at a comfortable temperature?

Question Title

* 4. If you answered 'No' to question 3, please check all that apply of the following statements.

Question Title

* 5. How often are you able to get sufficient hot water when you need it?

Question Title

* 6. How is payment for heating and electricity handled for your household?

Question Title

* 7. What is the main source of heat in your home?

Question Title

* 8. How do you keep cool in your house during a heat wave?

Question Title

* 9. How often are you concerned about paying your utility bills?

Question Title

* 10. Do you remember what your household's highest electric and gas utility bill was for this past winter?

Question Title

* 11. Do you remember the cost of your most recent electric and gas utility bill?

Question Title

* 12. Are there people in your home with heat sensitivity concerns, such as seniors, infants or toddlers?

Question Title

* 13. Do people in your household have these particular health issues on an ongoing basis? (Check all that apply.)

Question Title

* 14. Do you have any of the following indoor air quality issues in your home? (Check all that apply.)

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* 15. What type of rental unit do you live in?

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* 16. Have you needed to talk to your landlord about energy bills or comfort issues?

Question Title

* 17. If your landlord were to invest in a new clean energy heating system for your rental unit, how easy would it be for your household to accommodate having installers work in your home for 1-2 days?

Question Title

* 18. How many people live in your residence (including yourself)?

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* 19. How would you rate your personal knowledge of climate and energy issues?

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* 21. How many people in your household are college students?

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* 22. (The following questions are optional.) What is your age?

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* 23. What is your gender identity?

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* 24. Which race/ethnicity best describes you?

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* 25. Additional comments?