Smaller houses and denser neighborhoods needed to slash homes’ carbon footprint, researchers say
by Abby Smith, Energy and Environment Reporter |
| July 20, 2020 03:16 PM
People will likely need to live in smaller houses and denser neighborhoods for the United States to drive down residential greenhouse gas emissions consistent with global climate goals, according to new research published Monday by researchers at the University of Michigan.
The shift is just one of several policy and cultural changes required to cut emissions from U.S. households consistent with long-term targets under the Paris climate agreement, according to the researchers. The U.S. will also need to slash emissions from electricity, retrofit older houses to be more energy efficient, and begin phasing out direct use of fossil fuels, such as fuel oil and natural gas, in heating homes.
Those changes would likely face opposition, particularly from Republicans and conservatives who have defended suburban living.
Currently, around 20% of U.S. energy-related greenhouse gas emissions come from heating and powering people’s homes.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/energy/smaller-houses-and-denser-neighborhoods-needed-to-slash-homes-carbon-footprint-research-says