Provided by: Maine Climate Council |Published on: July 6, 2023
Articles/Websites Grades 9-12, ap-college
Synopsis
This article explores how to make a home or building more eco-friendly and the financial benefits and tax incentives in Maine that come with reducing energy waste, increasing efficiency, and adding renewable solutions.
The incentives for federal and state tax credits are outlined, a downloadable guide for Maine is provided, and the tax forms are linked.
This article has a visual that shows many different ways to decrease energy waste and energy usage.
Additional Prerequisites
Students should know what a tax credit is.
Students should understand how emissions from energy use contribute to climate change.
Differentiation
This article could supplement a lesson on the American government's effectiveness at combating climate change.
After reading the article, the teacher could lead a classroom discussion about the Inflation Reduction Act, how this law tries to address climate change, and the political context this law exists in.
This article could enhance a lesson on different types of home-based renewable energies and why they are environmentally friendly.
This article could augment a classroom discussion on what incentivized Maine to create tax credits for home decarbonization and how this policy will impact different groups within the state.
Engineering classes could discuss the best types of insulation, how heat pumps work, and the difference between Energy Star appliances and other appliances.