Letter of the Week: John R. Wrightfield discusses energy efficiency

My dream was to build an energy-efficient home that was sustainable, multigenerational, “smart,” with Americans with Disability Act concepts. In 2013, we began that project seeking to decrease our energy footprint.

Our new home is a third larger but consumes much less energy than our previous home. Using LED lighting, low-flow water systems, high-efficiency windows, insulation using cellulose and foam (including in crawl spaces), geothermal heating and cooling and programmable thermostats, we are seeing big paybacks.

Just as my parents were affected by the Depression of the 1930s, I have looked back upon the 1970s — and the beginnings of the energy crisis — to find that I was just as affected by the changes of that era.

Much has changed in four-plus decades with energy and policies related to conservation and climate. My sense of climate change, regardless of its cause, is for forward thinking on this important and critical issue.

I urge our state and national lawmakers to deal with climate change issues and not disregard the reality of what is occurring. Also, through legislation and with tax incentives, we should encourage homeowners to upgrade their homes.

John R. Wrightfield and his wife, Maryquinn, moved into their new house in Clay County in January 2014. He is a retired graphic artist who graduated from Drake University in 1968. They have five adult children and 11 grandchildren.

This story was originally published March 27, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Letter of the Week: John R. Wrightfield discusses energy efficiency."