We’ve all been spending a lot of time at home to help keep our friends, families, and neighbors safe. This has made it extremely clear how important it is for everyone to have a healthy home: when homes are drafty and poorly insulated, heating bills are expensive and children and adults alike are at a high risk of asthma and exposure to cold, mold, and unhealthy outdoor air. That’s why Oregon PSR is proud to support House Bill 2842, the Oregon Healthy Homes Act, a bipartisan bill which will create a new statewide grant program for low-income home energy retrofits.
Your personal testimony may be brief and should include what city or town you live in along with a few reasons why you want Oregon lawmakers to pass this bill.
Here are some of the health benefits for low-income Oregonians that the Healthy Homes program would bring if HB 2842 passes:
- Fewer sick days for children and adults
- Reduced residential energy bills thanks to better insulated housing
- New jobs created in home energy retrofits
- Better shelter from wildfire smoke and air pollution
- Reduced burden on healthcare systems thanks to better respiratory health
Home energy retrofits can be expensive, and renters often don’t have a say in home upgrades. HB 2842 would make grants available to local governments (including tribal governments), housing authorities, nonprofits, and community groups so that low-income homeowners and renters alike receive the many health benefits of a well-insulated home. Improving home energy efficiency is also a vital way to reduce Oregon’s dependence on fossil fuels and help our transition to 100% renewable energy. Learn more about HB 2842.