Electricity and Human Development Index

In this episode, I speak with Dr. Kayla Garrett, a professor in Baylor University's department of Environmental Science and co-founder of the nonprofit JustEnergy, about how electricity access shapes human freedom and responsibility. Kayla’s journey began as an undergraduate in humanitarian engineering, when a service-learning trip to Haiti involved helping a hospital install an off-grid solar and battery system—an experience that permanently altered how she thinks about development and energy justice. Since earning her PhD in environmental science, Dr. Garrett has continued teaching and leading JustEnergy, supporting projects in both Texas and Haiti.

Our conversation centers on the Human Development Index (HDI), which integrates life expectancy, education, and income as measures of human flourishing. We explore why electricity consumption correlates so strongly with HDI: small amounts of energy dramatically improve quality of life for the energy-poor, while additional energy provides diminishing returns for energy-rich societies. Could this be called "energy gluttony?"

Dr. Garrett also reflects candidly on returning from Haiti with feelings of anger and shame, and how those emotions evolved into a call for energy temperance—a disciplined, neighbor-centered approach to energy use. We conclude by distinguishing between energy conservation as a behavioral choice and energy efficiency as a technological strategy.

Main Points:
Humanitarian engineering and formative experiences in Haiti
HDI as a measure of freedom and development
Electricity’s nonlinear impact on quality of life
Energy temperance, energy gluttony, conservation, and efficiency

See www.justiceandmercy.energy for extra content including episodes that explain electrical terms in accessible ways.