No one would haul water in a leaky bucket, but hundreds of thousands of Mainers lose heated air through leaky houses. Air escapes through floors, walls and ceilings, doors and windows, plumbing holes, and fireplaces. Even in reasonably tight homes air leaks may account for 15% to 25% of the heat our furnaces generate in the winter or that our homes gain in the summer.

Those leaks can add hundreds of dollars or more to a homeowner’s energy bills annually, and those added costs increase household financial burdens. It is not uncommon for the heating bill to account for a large portion of a household’s total energy expenditure, especially in older homes found across our state.

L.D. 1094, An Act to Authorize a General Fund Bond Issue “To Reduce Homeowner and Municipal Energy Bills through Increased Efficiency and Weatherization Projects,” should be passed by Maine’s Legislature. In addition to the public health benefits of reduced pollution from less fossil fuel combustion, tighter homes can provide more comfortable environments and save Mainer’s a goodly amount of money..

Weatherization of Maine homes and schools pays dividends through more flexible household budgets, improved learning environments and taxpayer savings. Maine voters should have the opportunity to approve this $20 million bond on the November 2021 ballot and help more senior citizens, low-income residents, students and taxpayers who rely on public buildings, by increasing the capacity of weatherization and energy efficiency solutions.

Nancy L. Gilbert

Durham