Roundtable discussions sponsored by League of Women Voters Hudson focus on sustainability efforts

About 50 Hudson residents celebrated Earth Day by attending Hudson’s League of Women Voters roundtable open to the public in April.

The roundtable focused on “Energy in the Home” and highlighted steps individuals can take to reduce emissions and energy consumption while saving money. There was also a roundtable discussion on “Best Practices for the Yard” highlighting steps individuals can take to create sustainable yards that support the local ecosystem and combat climate change.

During the Energy in the Home roundtable on April 18, participants learned about the Inflation Reduction Act and how they can take advantage of it to receive tax breaks and rebates for making energy-saving investments in their homes. The IRA Act was passed in 2022 and is the largest bipartisan investment in U.S. history to address the climate crisis and invest in clean energy. For individuals, the IRA includes tax credits and rebates for new household clean energy systems (solar, wind, geothermal), energy-saving renovations (insulation, windows, heat pumps, heat pump boilers, energy-efficient appliances) and electric vehicles.

For information about the IRA, email LWVH at [email protected].

In addition to learning about the IRA, participants also heard from local residents of Hudson and Stow who have made lifestyle changes that reduce emissions and energy consumption in their homes. Four topics were discussed: solar panels; heat pumps; energy efficiency and conservation; and changing habits to reduce energy consumption.

LWVH has created an online “toolkit” that provides information and links to resources related to the topics covered during the roundtable.

The May 1 roundtable featured local experts, including Janean Curfman, naturalist with Summit Metro Parks; Curt Van Blarcum, former arborist for the City of Hudson; and Mike Veney, Director of Environmental Programs for Davey Tree, shared sustainable gardening practices.

These roundtable discussions were the first two in a series specifically focused on steps individuals can take to live more sustainably. Future roundtable topics include transportation, food and health.

For more information, visit Events at lwvhudsonohio.org.

This article originally appeared in Akron Beacon Journal: League of Women Voters Hudson sponsors forums on energy conservation