5.3.1 Electricity
A significant majority of the community, 89%, have access to electricity. While availability of power is relatively widespread, 11% of the community may still be without reliable access, which can impact their quality of life and ability to use essential appliances.
Figure 34. Access to electricity in Springville.
Figure 35. Residents who lack electricity use generators to power appliances
A member of a Latinx family explained how they cope with absence of electricity in their lot. “With the generator right now we are using it for everything that is electrical. We use it for everything, more than anything at night, and the light is here. Also, the [RVs] heater.” Keeping the generator running is costly, “about $180 a week” they noted. Gerardo, also lacking electricity, chooses not to heat his food. “Well, the simple truth is that we already eat food like this [refrigerated]. Only in wintertime I heat it up.”
Figure 36. Picture taken by a resident illustrating their lack of easy access to electricity and lighting.
5.3.2 Air Cooling Methods
Most survey respondents, 63%, have access to some form of air conditioning. Fans are the most widely used cooling method, with 74% of these respondents reporting their use, and many relying on multiple fans within one household to tolerate the Texas heat. Window air conditioners are also popular for 70% of respondents and are the primary cooling solution for many of them. Portable air conditioners are present in 17% of households; they are a flexible cooling option since they can be easily moved as needed to target specific areas. Nine percent use industrial units, which offer a better solution for cooling larger spaces and circulating air more effectively. Only 4% of households have HVAC systems, indicating a low penetration of centralized air conditioning systems, which are typically more efficient but also more costly to install and maintain.
Figure 37. Air cooling methods used in Springville.
Figure 38. Picture taken by a resident illustrating deficiencies in the roof, and the use of window units in structures that lack insulation.
Figure 39. A Springville resident’s photograph showing a window air conditioner.
Figure 40. A residence with multiple portable air conditioning units.
5.3.3 Thermal Comfort in Summer
A substantial 43% of respondents reported feeling hot in summer, while 26% described feeling warm. This indicates that nearly 70% of the community experiences some heat-related discomfort. Conversely, a smaller segment, 24%, found the temperatures comfortable, suggesting some variance in individual perceptions, habits, or access to cooling resources. For example, Pedro, who has lived in the community for more than ten years and grows most of his food says, “The heat that happened was tremendous because it burned everything, my peaches, everything that I planted with vegetables, everything, everything burned. And even more so, I also began to feel bad due to the heat.” Although feeling cold is unexpected during summer, a small percentage of the population reported feeling cold (4%) or very cold (2%). This may reflect unique personal circumstances or microclimates within the area.
Figure 41. Residents’ reported thermal comfort in summer.
5.3.4 Heating Methods
A significant majority of community members, 59%, have access to some form of heating. Most of them, 57%, use portable heaters as their primary technology, likely due to the flexibility and ease of use they offer. However, only 11% of the community has an installed heating system. This implies that more permanent, integrated home heating solutions are uncommon, likely because of infrastructural challenges or cost barriers. Notably, no residents reported having an energy efficient heater, indicating a complete absence of energy-efficient heating solutions, which means many residents must incur higher energy costs and a larger environmental footprint. Lastly, 17% of the community reported having access to non-standard forms of heating, which often include using their stove to heat the home.
Figure 42. Heating methods used in Springville.
5.3.5 Thermal Comfort in Winter
Our data shows that only a small percentage of respondents feel hot (2%) or warm (9%) during the winter months. The majority of the community find winter conditions cold: 35% feel cold and 33% report feeling very cold. Nearly 70% of the community, then, struggles when temperatures are low, suggesting issues such as inadequate heating and insulation. Meanwhile, 22% of respondents feel comfortable, indicating adequate heating or personal adaptation to colder temperatures.
A Latinx family was asked how cold the RV feels during the winter. “ [The RV] is very cold, everything freezes. Right now in the cold, when the generator turns off is when everything gets really cold. Gasoline runs out and you can imagine how cold it gets.” During a 2021 winter storm, long-term African American resident Betty experienced roof damage caused by a falling branch. She expressed her worry to us about the approaching winter, citing this concern, “It is rotten and will likely fall down. I am most concerned about the winter and how I will survive cold temperatures.”
Figure 43. Structural deficiencies in the roofs of aging housing.
Figure 44. Residents’ reported indoor thermal comfort in winter,