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September 26, 2026
The twin crises of affordability and climate change will intersect in many places, but we thought we might focus on the challenge of heating and cooling our homes. Just cranking your air conditioner and/or furnace until it feels good in your bedroom is becoming more difficult to rely on. The Iran War and the rapid growth of data centers have threatened to drastically increase the cost of electricity, while most folks' incomes remain fairly stagnant. At the same time, climate chaos is making extreme temperatures more common; our summer here in Nebraska is getting particularly longer and hotter every year. How are ordinary people supposed to survive this?
We will be sharing some low-tech, low-cost options that can offer some relief. Putting reflective materials, even aluminum foil, on the part of your curtains facing out toward the window can reduce the amount of heat from sunlight pouring in during the summer. Box fans can be combined with ice to blow cool air inside. Old, drafty windows can be patched through the winter with plastic wrap to keep most of those bitter northern winds out of your house. If you'd like to hear more about these, or you have your own tips to share, we hope you'll join us on Saturday!
As always, our events are free and open to the public. The Black Cat House welcomes all ages, and is a drug and alcohol-free venue. To help keep everyone safe and healthy, we ask that all guests wear face masks in our space. We are wheelchair accessible.