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!
We just wrapped up Climate Plus: Going beyond Weatherization to Healthy Air Quality in Low-Income Homes, a project funded through an EPA Environmental Justice grant. Our work with low-income individuals at risk for air quality health harms was highlighted on EPA's website for its exemplary quality, and the findings can be viewed in more detail here.
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Fall 2024
DFARM Hydroponics Planning Grant
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Three3 a planning grant titled DFARM: A Smart, Connected and Distributed Community Hydroponics System. The purpose of DFARM is to 1) assist the food community allocate food production targets to participating community gardens, other local food producers, and hydroponic systems located in the homes of food insecure households, schools, churches, community-based organizations, and elsewhere around Knoxville and then 2) assist the food community distribute harvests to food hubs. Three3 has engaged experts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in hydroponics, nutrition, search algorithms, and user interface design and a broad spectrum of Knoxville’s food community through workshops and focus groups. Representing the food community are the United Way of Greater Knoxville, Knox Pride, Centro Hispano, Battlefield Farms, Beardsley Farms and Real Good Kitchen, and over a half dozen hydroponic systems have been installed around the community to build community capacity. The team will submit a full proposal to NSF in the fall of 2025.
We appreciate UWGK for hosting all of our workshops, Knox Pride for hosting two of our focus groups, and Real Good Kitchen for providing food for all of our group sessions.
DFARM Hydroponics Planning Grant
The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Three3 a planning grant titled DFARM: A Smart, Connected and Distributed Community Hydroponics System. The purpose of DFARM is to 1) assist the food community allocate food production targets to participating community gardens, other local food producers, and hydroponic systems located in the homes of food insecure households, schools, churches, community-based organizations, and elsewhere around Knoxville and then 2) assist the food community distribute harvests to food hubs. Three3 has engaged experts from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in hydroponics, nutrition, search algorithms, and user interface design and a broad spectrum of Knoxville’s food community through workshops and focus groups. Representing the food community are the United Way of Greater Knoxville, Knox Pride, Centro Hispano, Battlefield Farms, Beardsley Farms and Real Good Kitchen, and over a half dozen hydroponic systems have been installed around the community to build community capacity. The team will submit a full proposal to NSF in the fall of 2025.
We appreciate UWGK for hosting all of our workshops, Knox Pride for hosting two of our focus groups, and Real Good Kitchen for providing food for all of our group sessions.
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March 2025
EXCET Workshop, Japan During March 2025, Erin traveled to Osaka, Japan for the 3rd EXCET Workshop organized under the U.S.-Japan Exchange Program for Green Growth Collaboration through Clean Energy Technologies. EXCET is "dedicated to fostering an international network of researchers and experts spanning a wide range of fields, encompassing both engineering and social sciences. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Embassy |
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Tokyo, the objective is to develop policy recommendations and actionable strategies that can drive sustainable economic growth and facilitate decarbonization in Japan and the United States. Erin was invited to present on the Current Landscape of Residential Energy Efficiency Programs Across the U.S. with a focus on low-income programs. She also provided updates on national energy burden findings and the importance of meaningful community engagement on emerging energy innovations and technologies to better understand local perceptions and experiences.
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Summer 2024
Knoxville Community Food Systems Assessment Three3 recently finished supporting a Knoxville-wide food systems assessment managed by the United Way of Greater Knoxville. This participatory-driven assessment involved surveys supported by many trusted, community-based organizations and change leaders, as well as alternative forms of information and people gathering to better understand people's experiences across the food system. Importantly, |
all the (de-identified) data and information collected will be made public for community use. The final products for this assessment include traditional reports and presentations of findings as well as a StoryMap (in current development). We also hope to communicate expressions and strategic visioning through visual language. Click here for more information from the UWGK and for the annual report.
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 TennCare (Medicaid) Claims Study with Home Uplift participants 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 over 2024 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). Click here for more information on each of these separate Home Uplift studies.
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 TennCare (Medicaid) Claims Study with Home Uplift participants 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 over 2024 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). Click here for more information on each of these separate Home Uplift studies.
Launched in Spring 2024!
A Community Co-Designed Weatherization and Microgrid Plan for
Equitable Energy Security and Environmental Health
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Harvard University, and Three3 partnered to win a grant from the Wellcome Trust. The project aims to provide climate mitigation solutions, i.e., community microgrids and weatherization with electrification for reducing energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and improve physical and mental health for underserved communities, such as low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. For this project, Three3 will partner with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 will conduct synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will also estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs if electrification and to changes in utility costs to low-income households of electrification and rooftop solar. Three3 will also estimate deaths preventable from the installation of weatherization and climate resilience measures in combination with home electrification.
A Community Co-Designed Weatherization and Microgrid Plan for
Equitable Energy Security and Environmental Health
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Harvard University, and Three3 partnered to win a grant from the Wellcome Trust. The project aims to provide climate mitigation solutions, i.e., community microgrids and weatherization with electrification for reducing energy burdens and greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), and improve physical and mental health for underserved communities, such as low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. For this project, Three3 will partner with local nonprofit, Women With Vision, to engage residents in Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee through focus groups and surveys on a range of topics, including electrification, solar power and microgrids. Three3 will conduct synthesizing analyses of previously collected indoor environmental quality sensor data to assess the IAQ benefits of electrification of low-income homes. We will also estimate the costs and benefits to weatherization programs if electrification and to changes in utility costs to low-income households of electrification and rooftop solar. Three3 will also estimate deaths preventable from the installation of weatherization and climate resilience measures in combination with home electrification.
Our Integrity 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 policy-making 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 policy-making 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.
