With back-to-school time parents like me have been busy getting all the necessary school supplies, getting to know our kids’ teachers, signing our kids up for extracurriculars and making sure they are set up for success. It also often means that most of us are temporarily distracted from other things that will affect their future. But it still creeps in during quiet moments. And I know I worry.

I worried about the fact that temperatures were still so high when school started in August. Classrooms were hot. Just after Labor Day, over 30 schools in the Denver area closed or ended early because of excessive heat. It’s hard to concentrate in hot classrooms and playgrounds can get dangerously hot.

As a result, I was glad to see that President Biden just signed a bill, the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, that will address clean air and the climate crisis. Through incentives it will build American clean energy supply chains using clean energy sources like solar and wind. It will also lower energy costs for families by hundreds of dollars per year through rebates and tax credits for efficient appliances and home upgrades. For us, it means we can finally get a more efficient cooling system for our house.

We’ve also been thinking about getting an electric vehicle (EV) so I can do more to protect my kids and their future. Soon we’ll be able to transfer our EV tax credit to a dealer so that we can get the credit in the form of an instant rebate. Because that brings down the upfront cost of buying an electric vehicle my family will be able to get one sooner. In addition to feeling better about polluting significantly less, we’re looking forward to the benefits of lower maintenance and fuel costs. 

The measures in the legislation are expected to bring down total annual greenhouse gas emissions - about 40% below 2005 levels by the year 2030. That means not only addressing climate, but also cleaner, healthier air, so healthcare costs will be lowered in a couple different ways. A study last year calculated that each American is paying $2500 in additional healthcare costs per year due to air pollution. If we can cut pollution, we not only have healthier kids but save money as well. They’ll also miss fewer school days. Drug prices will come down too. 

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 has several measures that will significantly help families like mine. It means cost savings with more money going back into the family budget, healthier air and a brighter future for our kids. As a mom, I am grateful that my legislators are looking out for my family.

Paige Singer, Arvada