It’s time to climate-proof our homes

The author advocates for a 'climate-proofing movement' to upgrade US residential buildings, noting that 85% of single-family homes were built before 2000 and lack modern energy standards. The text highlights that weatherization and the transition to electric heat pumps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect residents from extreme heat, which is the leading cause of weather-related deaths worldwide. It identifies the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) as a key driver for these improvements via tax credits and performance-based incentives, while calling for increased public awareness and workforce preparation to meet the expected surge in demand for home upgrades.

• Residential buildings in the United States often lack modern energy standards, with 85% of single-family homes constructed before 2000. These structures frequently suffer from poor air sealing, inefficient heating and cooling systems, and inadequate insulation, making them expensive to maintain and potentially dangerous during extreme weather.
• Climate-proofing homes serves as both a mitigation and adaptation strategy. Electrification, specifically replacing fossil-fuel systems like heating oil with electric heat pumps, can eliminate a home's greenhouse gas emissions entirely, while improved insulation protects against extreme heat, which is the primary cause of weather-related deaths globally.
• The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provides critical financial mechanisms to accelerate residential upgrades, including a $2,000 tax credit for heat pump purchases and performance-based incentives for contractors that link financial rewards to actual energy savings.
• Widespread adoption of home energy improvements is currently hindered by low awareness. The author recommends a three-part strategy: utilizing diverse communication channels to inform Americans of benefits and incentives, preparing the workforce (such as HVAC technicians and electricians) for increased demand, and sharing long-term success stories of lower bills and emissions.

APA

Salz, L. (2023). It’s time to climate-proof our homes. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-proof-our-homes-infrastructure-greener/

Chicago

Salz, Lauren. It’s time to climate-proof our homes. World Economic Forum, 2023. https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-proof-our-homes-infrastructure-greener/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Salz |first1=Lauren |title=It’s time to climate-proof our homes |publisher=World Economic Forum |date=16 February 2023 |url=https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-proof-our-homes-infrastructure-greener/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{salz2023its, author = {Salz, Lauren}, title = {{It’s time to climate-proof our homes}}, publisher = {World Economic Forum}, year = {2023}, month = feb, url = {https://www.weforum.org/stories/climate-action/climate-proof-our-homes-infrastructure-greener/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }