Focus on Weatherization Is Shift on Energy Costs

From NY Times | By MATTHEW L. WALD

“…Call it CSI: Thermal Police — energy experts armed with mostly low-tech tools but strong sleuthing skills, finding flaws that let the air inside a house go through a full exchange with the outdoors twice an hour, instead of once every two or three hours.

Correct those flaws, and heating and cooling costs are typically cut by 20 percent to 30 percent, a saving of more than $1,000 annually in some households. In addition, carbon dioxide emissions and the strain on the national electric and gas systems are reduced.

About 140,000 houses will be weatherized with public help this year, a total that President-elect Barack Obama has promised to raise to one million, to reduce energy consumption and cut energy costs for households and taxpayers, who often absorb those costs for the poor. This would represent a historic shift in emphasis for the federal and state governments, reducing poor people’s energy bills instead of helping to pay them. [NY Times | Full Article]

For more information about weatherization services or training in your community, contact the Community Environmental Center or Solar One!


Posted on Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am | Tagged in Design, Education, Energy, Energy Efficiency, Green Building, Green Collar Jobs, Sustainability, Technology | posted by Kennedy

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