Going Retro, Saving Energy

It may not be as sexy as shiny new electric cars, but retrofitting old buildings is one of the best ways to combat climate change. So what is retrofitting, exactly? It means making houses and other buildings more efficient by adding better insulation and fixing air leaks where heat can escape. The 130 million U.S. homes contribute about 20 percent of the nation’s total carbon dioxide emissions, so finding ways to make them more efficient will go a long way toward reducing greenhouse gases and stopping climate change.

The White House is taking an active role in promoting retrofitting, also called weatherization. Joe Biden’s Middle Class Task Force announced a plan this week to reduce home energy use by up to 40 percent, meaning as much as 160 million metric tons fewer greenhouse emissions per year by 2020. Plus, those efficient houses will cut energy bills, too. The program will include educating consumers about the benefits of weatherization, help with financing, and training for workers in this growing field.

Find out more about weatherization and get ready for National Weatherization Day on Oct. 30.

--Kyle Boelte