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Senate adopts $340 billion budget blueprint for Trump's agenda after marathon vote; MI keeps EV charging plans on track despite federal cuts; Shore power bill would improve WA air quality, cut emissions; Report: Methane mitigation industry grows in LA, nationwide.

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Trump wants to eliminate local governance in Washington, D.C., election denier Kash Patel is confirmed as FBI director, and federal cuts to the World Trade Center Health Program hurt ailing first responders.

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The Taos County Sheriff says he won't conduct raids or round ups of immigrants, New Hampshire worries a dearth of charging stations will force tourists driving EVs to pick another vacation destination, and Southern states improve education with workarounds.

WA Push Heats Up to Make Homes Greener, Healthier

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Tuesday, August 16, 2022   

Washington state wants to make homes for its most vulnerable residents greener and healthier.

It started with a needs assessment from the Department of Commerce on housing energy resilience to figure out what it will take.

Lindsey Schromen-Wawrin, policy and partnerships manager for Firelands Workers Action, a group in rural western Washington organizing on issues such as housing, said improving housing will not just make the house more energy resilient, but also remove health concerns lurking inside.

"People have been told by their doctor, 'Hey, the bronchitis you have is caused by the mold in your house. You've got spots in your lungs that will never go away because of the indoor air quality of the place where you live,' " Schromen-Wawrin observed.

Schromen-Wawrin noted about 0.3% of houses in Washington are being weatherized or upgraded each year. The state's goal is 10%. His organization has submitted an application to help the state scale up the program.

Schromen-Wawrin argued making home improvements would not only create healthier, more energy-efficient places to live, but also help the state tackle its growing housing crisis. He explained it is common for older Washingtonians who age in place to stop maintaining their housing out of lack of funds or resources.

"If we lose existing housing, then we're just going to get further and further behind," Schromen-Wawrin cautioned. "We can lose housing through people not being able to maintain their housing. You know, if your roof leaks, you're basically rotting out the structure."

On improvements to save energy, Schromen-Wawrin noted there are a number of options. Ductless heat pumps, for instance, will be important as summers in the Northwest warm up, since they can both heat and cool homes. He added it is important to get a wider perspective.

"Really, we have to think of housing, and the electrical grid as a whole, as something that we all collectively share," Schromen-Wawrin emphasized.


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