Utah group aims to make climate-friendly homes the norm

Skip to content (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Transcript: Spencer Cox, the governor of Utah, aims for 150,000 new homes to be built in his state in the next few years. And the nonprofit Utah Clean Energy wants to make sure these homes produce little or no planet-warming carbon pollution. That means they should be powered by clean energy like solar – and built with appliances and HVAC systems that run on electricity instead of fossil fuels. When designed to be well-insulated and energy efficient, these homes can also stay more comfortable during heat waves and cold snaps. And often, residents save money long-term. Emerson: “They have very low utility bills.” Kevin Emerson is with Utah Clean Energy. To educate homebuyers about these features so they can ask for them and provide contractors with the information they need to build this way, his group is promoting its new online tool kit. It includes details and case studies on how to design and construct efficient, low-emission homes. Emerson: “There’s also information about the financial considerations, the rapid payback as well as the incremental construction costs, but how that all in the end makes a lot of sense and makes these homes very economical for buyers.” So Emerson hopes the tool kit helps climate-friendly homes become the norm in Utah and beyond. Reporting credit: Ethan Freedman / ChavoBart Digital Media