Support legislation for energy efficiency

If you had a leaky roof that let rainwater in, I’m sure you’d fix it. But here’s the surprise. Your home most likely is leaking — only it’s a leak that’s harder to detect. It is wasted energy from inefficient appliances, poor insulation and bad design. You can feel its impact by standing close to an inefficient window on any winter day. You can see it when you read your exorbitant energy bill.

Energy “leaks” don’t just waste our money, they also add to Illinois’ energy demand, the majority of which is met by burning coal or other fossil fuels, contributing to global warming and air pollution, the causes of asthma and heart attacks

But here’s the good news: Stopping these leaks doesn’t cost any money — in the long run these fixes will more than pay for themselves. That’s why Illinois legislators should support HB 1422, sponsored by state Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Northbrook. The bill would give rise to programs to help homeowners and businesses upgrade their energy efficiency, with everything from free compact fluorescent light bulbs to comprehensive building retrofits. The bill would require electric utilities to make such programs available to customers as long as they are cheaper, per megawatt saved, than supplying an equivalent amount of electricity from other sources like coal or nuclear power plants.

The bill would give energy customers more options and lower energy bills while increasing Illinois’ energy security and cutting our dependence on dirty fossil fuels. I urge Illinoisans to call their state legislators and urge them to co-sponsor HB 1422. It’s time to plug the leaks.

Emily D’Andrea

Chicago