Chapter Three emphasized how important storm windows and insulation are to energy conservation. The data in this chapter show that storm windows and insulation are most frequently absent from the homes of poor and lower-middle-income households. Ways need to be found to provide funds for families in these income groups who are homeowners so that they can make improvements. Incentives also need to be made available to landlords to add these items. The problem is particularly great in colder areas and in situations where the landlord controls the thermostat but the family pays the fuel bill. Funds are also needed to improve the deteriorated and low quality housing of some poor families so that their housing will be made better at the same time energy conserving features are added.

Over two-thirds of all households, whether poor or not, said they would be willing to purchase a more expensive air conditioner if it cost less to run. Information on the energy use of major appliances and cars needs to be made available to buyers so that it can become a factor in their decisions.

Chapter Four brought out the need for low cost, well routed public transit to attract people away from their cars. This chapter puts the need for better public transit in more immediate terms. The poor especially suffer from the lack of transportation (half have no car at all); convenient public transportation could help them greatly.

Chapter Four also pointed out that public transit is best adapted to expansion in the central cities, where people live most closely together. For all the areas where public transit does not now exist, and perhaps never can, ways need to be found to help the poor. One way, which is presently being explored, is through transportation stamps that are good for all types of transportation, including taxis, buses, trains, and airplanes. At present, without some kind of assistance the poor family without a car and without good public transit is truly isolated; the better off take the line of least resistance, an attractive, expensive alternative—the personal automobile.

Rationing

Rationing a fuel by giving equal amounts to all households would hurt the well off more than the poor because the well off consume so much more. Rationing a fuel to a percentage of previous consumption levels leaves the poor in their usual disadvantaged position—at the bottom of the energy gap. Since their consumption is already at a very low level, the poor are hurt even more when they must cut. For example, the affluent family with a large home can cut its fuel oil consumption if it shuts off an extra room. A poor family already living in cramped quarters cannot do this; it must instead lower room temperature, perhaps to an uncomfortable level.