There are many steps that we could take individually and as a whole to help reduce climate change.  We hear some about not using plastic water bottles or straws, and getting solar panels. However a lot of the time people cannot afford to buy solar panels because they are too expensive or they don't buy reusable bottles because they are not as easy to get. When trying to tackle community problems such as affordable housing many times the cheapest way is not sustainable. For example, there is a serious affordable housing shortage here in San Francisco and the bay area in general. When trying to increase the number of houses instead of trying to save money right away, city planners could put solar panels on these homes or apartments. Yes, solar panels are pretty expensive so that could drive up the price of the home and make it  not affordable. But many home owners are hesitant to install them because of the initial investment, so if they were installed previously this would be solved. The landlord would have to make an investment at the start but all the occupants would be  saving money for themselves and the landlord in the long run. Also we could make reusable water bottles available in cheaper way by reusing old materials to make them so more people will go out and get them for themselves.

I agree. This would solve problems with affordable energy, and would reduce the carbon footprint of the country.