Letter: Weatherization program an investment in ND housing

A latest information story famous the intense temperatures we expertise in a median North Dakota yr. It’s not unusual for us to see a temperature vary of 140 levels from the most well liked day of summer time to the coldest day of winter.

These situations might be tough to take care of, particularly if you happen to stay in an older dwelling with insufficient safety towards climate extremes – reminiscent of outdated home windows, minimal insulation, or a furnace you may’t rely on.

So, it left me scratching my head when, simply this final September, a North Dakota legislative committee voted to refuse $19 million in federal and state funding for the Weatherization Help Program in North Dakota.

Because the director of a regional Neighborhood Motion Company, I’ve labored with the weatherization program for over 40 years, and I can inform you it is likely one of the handiest packages within the nation.

By this program, now we have weatherized over 28,000 properties in North Dakota since 1976, the yr this system grew to become operational, with the standard household saving over $370 in power prices per yr after their dwelling has been weatherized. Weatherization prolongs the lifespan of current housing inventory and permits properties to stay reasonably priced.

However the advantages of this system don’t finish there. Weatherization additionally means jobs. From weatherization workers to native contractors and distributors, financial advantages from weatherization ripple throughout the complete state. Improved housing situations additionally scale back bodily and psychological well being issues for households whereas releasing up {dollars} that can be utilized for prescriptions.

Clearly, funding the weatherization program is an funding in North Dakota’s housing, economic system and its individuals. I encourage our elected officers to contemplate the various advantages of this program and assist the $19 million in funding that was rejected this previous September.