fostering equitable, sustainable futures
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Three3 (pronounced ThreeCubed) is a 501(c)3 research nonprofit located in Knoxville, TN with a mission to foster equitable and sustainable futures. The principle researchers and co-founders of Three3 conduct innovative social science research and facilitate stakeholder workshops on complex social issues. Three3 is connected to local, regional and national networks that aim to advance equity and resilience outcomes for lower-income households and populations. Three3 is also deeply embedded in community-driven initiatives that aim to advance transformative social outcomes for historically underserved individuals and populations. Specific skills:
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WE HAVE EXCITING NEWS!November 2021
ThreeCubed was one of 18 applicants from across the country chosen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to conduct housing-related hazard and energy efficiency research studies. Our work will be supported by local non-profit, SEEED (Knoxville) Green | spaces (Chattanooga), United Housing Inc. (Memphis), Slipstream (Wisconsin), and Boston University School of Public Health. Collectively, the grantees, that include other universities, public health, and national housing organizations, were awarded a total of $15.7 million. The research grants are funded by HUD’s Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes (OLHCHH) and aim to identify and improve methods for the detection and mitigation of housing-related health and safety hazards including lead and other indoor air pollutants. Click here for the HUD press release. |
recent ACTIVITIES
April 2022
The final results from our Non-Energy Impact (NEI) study of the TVA Home Uplift weatherization pilot were revealed at the Building Performance Association's Home Performance Conference held in Nashville this April. This study focused on seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley that participated in the Home Uplift pilot and recruited 701 Home Uplift households and 300 control group households to complete surveys and in-depth interviews. Based on the survey findings, a number of NEIs were monetized to illustrate how this low-income weatherization program can achieve cost savings across a range of health and household benefits.
Click here for the final report.
March and April 2022
ThreeCubed prepared and delivered a training module on Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) with a cohort of career readiness students at Knoxville-based nonprofit, SEEED. The project, funded through the United Way of Greater Knoxville and the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, aimed to first train young people on conducting participatory action research and then guide them on implementing a project by their own design. During the training, an in-depth interview was drafted with the overarching question of, 'What does it mean for a community to thrive?' In addition to the interviews (and a series of focus groups led by the young researchers), a mapping and GIS training module will be taught by local experts.
September 2021
We are so excited to release final results from our multi-year, multi-region evaluation of the health and safety-related non-energy impacts (NEIs) of weatherizing affordable multifamily housing. This study is the most comprehensive evaluation of multifamily (MF) NEIs, encompassing the Northeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., that has been conducted to date. This first-of-many publications from this study was prepared for the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Program Administrators focusing on multifamily buildings served through the Mass Save® income-eligible coordinated delivery initiative. Click here for a project overview and here to download the full report.
The final results from our Non-Energy Impact (NEI) study of the TVA Home Uplift weatherization pilot were revealed at the Building Performance Association's Home Performance Conference held in Nashville this April. This study focused on seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley that participated in the Home Uplift pilot and recruited 701 Home Uplift households and 300 control group households to complete surveys and in-depth interviews. Based on the survey findings, a number of NEIs were monetized to illustrate how this low-income weatherization program can achieve cost savings across a range of health and household benefits.
Click here for the final report.
March and April 2022
ThreeCubed prepared and delivered a training module on Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) with a cohort of career readiness students at Knoxville-based nonprofit, SEEED. The project, funded through the United Way of Greater Knoxville and the Southeast Sustainability Directors Network, aimed to first train young people on conducting participatory action research and then guide them on implementing a project by their own design. During the training, an in-depth interview was drafted with the overarching question of, 'What does it mean for a community to thrive?' In addition to the interviews (and a series of focus groups led by the young researchers), a mapping and GIS training module will be taught by local experts.
September 2021
We are so excited to release final results from our multi-year, multi-region evaluation of the health and safety-related non-energy impacts (NEIs) of weatherizing affordable multifamily housing. This study is the most comprehensive evaluation of multifamily (MF) NEIs, encompassing the Northeast and Midwest regions of the U.S., that has been conducted to date. This first-of-many publications from this study was prepared for the Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Program Administrators focusing on multifamily buildings served through the Mass Save® income-eligible coordinated delivery initiative. Click here for a project overview and here to download the full report.
current projects
Summer 2021 - Fall 2024
Non-Energy Impact Studies of TVA's Home Uplift Weatherization Program
The Tennessee Valley Authority is funding a number of non-energy impact (NEI) studies that aim to measure the multiple benefits of the low-income weatherization program, Home Uplift. The studies include a Rural NEI Study of Home Uplift to complement the recently completed NEI study of the Home Uplift pilot that operated within seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. The studies include approved human subjects research to collect Medicaid claims data that can be linked to surveys and weatherization data for participating Home Uplift households. Finally, a meta-analysis of all the data collected through these special studies will be completed to better understand the impacts of Home Uplift weatherization on energy affordability and security, dwelling quality, health and quality of life, and a range of social determinants of health (SDoH).
Summer 2021 - Summer 2022
Measuring the Impacts of Weatherization on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has funded Three3 to study the impacts of home weatherization on indoor temperature, relative humidity, and occupant well-being and health, particularly in relation to arthritis, asthma and COPD. The team has partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority to install temperature and humidity loggers in the homes of 22 Nashville-area participants in the Home Uplift energy efficiency program this summer and conduct surveys with the residents about their health and comfort inside their homes. Following the summer pilot, loggers will be placed in more participating homes throughout Tennessee to capture impacts in winter also.
Fall-Winter 2021 - Spring 2022
Refugee Housing Study
Three3 and Bridge Refugee Services (BRS) are conducting a needs study to assess the challenges associated with refugee access to affordable and adequate housing in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas of Tennessee. This understanding will better equip organizations in providing appropriate housing relief to incoming refugees and to secure and maintain ideal relationships with landlords. To advance our knowledge, BRS and Three3 plan to implement semi-structured interviews with five groups of stakeholders:
Non-Energy Impact Studies of TVA's Home Uplift Weatherization Program
The Tennessee Valley Authority is funding a number of non-energy impact (NEI) studies that aim to measure the multiple benefits of the low-income weatherization program, Home Uplift. The studies include a Rural NEI Study of Home Uplift to complement the recently completed NEI study of the Home Uplift pilot that operated within seven metro areas across the Tennessee Valley. The studies include approved human subjects research to collect Medicaid claims data that can be linked to surveys and weatherization data for participating Home Uplift households. Finally, a meta-analysis of all the data collected through these special studies will be completed to better understand the impacts of Home Uplift weatherization on energy affordability and security, dwelling quality, health and quality of life, and a range of social determinants of health (SDoH).
Summer 2021 - Summer 2022
Measuring the Impacts of Weatherization on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ)
The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) has funded Three3 to study the impacts of home weatherization on indoor temperature, relative humidity, and occupant well-being and health, particularly in relation to arthritis, asthma and COPD. The team has partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority to install temperature and humidity loggers in the homes of 22 Nashville-area participants in the Home Uplift energy efficiency program this summer and conduct surveys with the residents about their health and comfort inside their homes. Following the summer pilot, loggers will be placed in more participating homes throughout Tennessee to capture impacts in winter also.
Fall-Winter 2021 - Spring 2022
Refugee Housing Study
Three3 and Bridge Refugee Services (BRS) are conducting a needs study to assess the challenges associated with refugee access to affordable and adequate housing in the Knoxville and Chattanooga areas of Tennessee. This understanding will better equip organizations in providing appropriate housing relief to incoming refugees and to secure and maintain ideal relationships with landlords. To advance our knowledge, BRS and Three3 plan to implement semi-structured interviews with five groups of stakeholders:
- Refugees living in rental housing in the greater Knoxville and Chattanooga areas
- Stakeholders and staff of the Episcopal Migration Ministries
- Landlords who have been willing to rent to refugees
- Landlords that have not yet rented to refugees
- Other relevant stakeholders not already listed
Our Statement
The mission of Three3 remains rooted in the imperative to achieve equitable, sustainable futures. Our organization works to meaningfully establish racial equity and justice into the cross-sector research we conduct, in our facilitation of policymaking and program evaluation, and by applying a human rights-based framework to our work. In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we strive to do better. We remain committed to donating our social science capabilities to under-funded local community initiatives for racial justice and parity, and for black dignity and freedoms. We remain ever vigilant in the monitoring and evaluation of both the benefits and burdens produced by current and historical policies, programs, and budgets enacted locally and across this country. As always, we remain truly grateful to black and brown community members across the South that have allowed us inside their homes for us to gather stories and struggles with energy affordability and housing quality. Your stories are gifts and we will continue to elevate and amplify your voices so that we might move toward a new social contract; one where Black Lives Matter.
The mission of Three3 remains rooted in the imperative to achieve equitable, sustainable futures. Our organization works to meaningfully establish racial equity and justice into the cross-sector research we conduct, in our facilitation of policymaking and program evaluation, and by applying a human rights-based framework to our work. In solidarity with Black Lives Matter, we strive to do better. We remain committed to donating our social science capabilities to under-funded local community initiatives for racial justice and parity, and for black dignity and freedoms. We remain ever vigilant in the monitoring and evaluation of both the benefits and burdens produced by current and historical policies, programs, and budgets enacted locally and across this country. As always, we remain truly grateful to black and brown community members across the South that have allowed us inside their homes for us to gather stories and struggles with energy affordability and housing quality. Your stories are gifts and we will continue to elevate and amplify your voices so that we might move toward a new social contract; one where Black Lives Matter.