Investigating energy justice in demand-side low-carbon innovations in Ontario

The study analyzes 122 demand-side low-carbon energy innovations within Ontario's energy technology innovation system (ETIS) to evaluate their alignment with energy justice frameworks. While availability, affordability, and information are generally addressed, the study finds a lack of user involvement and a systemic bias toward private businesses over marginalized groups like renters and low-income households. The research highlights that government-delivered or regulated providers are more likely to prioritize energy justice than decentralized actors.

• Of the four energy justice indicators analyzed—availability, affordability, information, and involvement—the first three are generally being addressed, whereas involvement is harder to verify.
• Ontario's energy technology innovation system (ETIS) may be reinforcing social inequities by prioritizing innovations for private businesses while neglecting marginalized actors such as renters and low-income households.
• Innovation providers that are regulated, publicly owned, or government-delivered demonstrate a stronger commitment to energy justice and the provision of innovations for marginalized groups.

APA

Hoicka, C. (2021). Investigating energy justice in demand-side low-carbon innovations in Ontario. Climate Social Science Network. https://cssn.org/investigating-energy-justice-in-demand-side-low-carbon-innovations-in-ontario/

Chicago

Hoicka, Christina. Investigating energy justice in demand-side low-carbon innovations in Ontario. Climate Social Science Network, 2021. https://cssn.org/investigating-energy-justice-in-demand-side-low-carbon-innovations-in-ontario/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hoicka |first1=Christina |title=Investigating energy justice in demand-side low-carbon innovations in Ontario |publisher=Climate Social Science Network |date=27 August 2021 |url=https://cssn.org/investigating-energy-justice-in-demand-side-low-carbon-innovations-in-ontario/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hoicka2021investigating, author = {Hoicka, Christina}, title = {{Investigating energy justice in demand-side low-carbon innovations in Ontario}}, institution = {Climate Social Science Network}, year = {2021}, month = aug, url = {https://cssn.org/investigating-energy-justice-in-demand-side-low-carbon-innovations-in-ontario/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }