Summary

U.S. emissions fell during the height of the pandemic as people were stuck at home, but that changed as the pandemic eased. Many researchers, scientists and lawmakers argue that Americans need to reduce their use of fossil fuels much sooner than they may have planned. Miles O'Brien reports on an alternative for home heating that could reduce the use and costs of fossil fuels. For a transcript of this story, click here .

Five Facts

• Who are some of the individuals featured in the heat pump story?


• What problems are the heat pumps attempting to solve?


• When did heat pumps start to get installed in people's homes as an alternative to fossil fuels?


• Where are the heat pumps being installed in this story?


• How do heat pumps work? What are some of the challenges with heat pumps as alternative forms of energy?


• Why did homeowners in the story say they wanted greener homes?

Focus Questions

1. How does relieving student loans help individual people? How might Biden's plan affect the overall economy?


2. Media literacy : What do you know about the towns featured in the story, West Hempstead and Scarsdale, New York? Conduct an internet search to learn some demographic information about these towns, like average income.
   
   
   
   
   • The Columbia University professor lives in Harlem, New York. What do you know about Harlem and the gentrification that's been taking place there for some years?
   
   
   • What information about cost of heat pumps and other alternative energy sources were included in the piece?
   
   
   • TIP : It's true that reporters can't fit "everything" into a story, so, it's important to do a little research on your own, and most of all, ask questions about the news you are consuming.
     
     
     
     
     • When you watch a story about technology and innovation, you should always ask the question: What are the unintended consequences of this technology?
     
     
     
     
   
   
   
   


3. Optional, if short on time : See, Think, Wonder: What do you notice? What does the story make you think? What do you want to find out more about?

For More

What students can do : Talk with a family member, friend or neighbor about other problems in the news that have been solved or improved by taking a new alternative to the problem — or new inventions and innovations all together. You don't have to do the lesson — choose the one that interests you, watch the video and discuss!

 

Or read this story!

 

STUDENT VIDEO OF THE DAY!

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