ELPC and Allies Help Des Moines Residents Weatherize Homes to Lower Heating Bills and Fight Global Warming

January 19, 2009

Des Moines, IA – Taking part in President-Elect Obama’s National Call to Service, over 40 local volunteers worked to weatherize the homes of low-income Des Moines residents today. The volunteer project, organized by the Environmental Law and Policy Center’s Iowa Global Warming Campaign and Iowa Interfaith Power and Light, will not only help to lower heating bills, but will also reduce demand for energy by making homes more energy efficient.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to serve our community by helping our neighbors keep warm this winter, while lowering energy costs and reducing the pollution that causes global warming”, says Iowa Global Warming Campaign Director Andrew Snow. The volunteers will insulate windows, doors, and electrical outlets and install compact fluorescent light bulbs in 18 homes around Des Moines; thereby reducing demand for coal-generated electricity and natural gas.

The volunteers are excited to take part in the national call to service by helping members of their community who often struggle with high utility bills. With our nation’s attention focused on energy issues and the economic crisis, this weatherizing project is an excellent example of one way we can all save energy and money while fighting global warming. The Iowa Global Warming campaign is working with the state legislature and other allies to pass statewide energy efficiency regulations that would set goals for gradually reducing the amount of energy used in the state.