By Wendy Greenhouse

Let’s correct the record on the cost of electrifying buildings and what Oak Park’s new ordinance really means [Electrifying buildings and its costs, Viewpoints, March 27]:
First, the village now requires only that new construction be all-electric. But when it does require renovations to include switching from gas to electric heating/cooling and appliances, we could renovate our way to homes that are safer (cleaner indoor air and reduced fire risk), more comfortable (more even heating/cooling), and cheaper to operate.

By Nick Bridge

In his “One View” of March 27 [Electrifying buildings and its costs, Viewpoints], Jim Polaski raises alarms about the cost of electrifying buildings in Oak Park. I think he is confusing two different types of electric heating. The old form of electric heating, referred to as Electric Resistance Heating is, indeed, one of the most expensive ways to heat a building. The more recent technology, which involves heat pumps, on the other hand, is one of the least expensive and in recent years has seen such significant improvements that Maine, one of our coldest states, is leading the nation in conversion of homes to heat pumps.

By Wendy Greenhouse

The concept of powering our lives from the sun’s free, endless energy is irresistible. But it’s not just for those who can install solar panels on their rooftops. With “community solar,” anyone with an electric utility account — renters and condo owners included — can participate in generating solar energy.

By Oak Park Climate Action Network

Fighting climate change is daunting. But like each single vote, individual actions add up to something powerful. Where to start? Oak Park Climate Action Network’s newly launched website, OPCAN.ORG, is your guide to vetted resources for homeowners, renters, landlords, businesses and institutions.

By Wendy Greenhouse

Despite cool fall temps and overcast skies, many EV-curious folks turned out on Sunday, Oct. 8, for the inaugural Green Transportation Rally, organized by Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN).

By Oak Park Climate Action

In August 2022, Oak Park trustees approved the Climate Ready Oak Park (CROP) Plan, which makes a commitment for our community to get to net-zero emissions by 2050 and cut our greenhouse gases by 60% by 2030. The village staff and board should be lauded for establishing equity-focused programs and key policies that address climate pollution in Oak Park, such as becoming the first municipality in the Midwest to require that new buildings be all-electric. These steps demonstrate our potential to rise to the challenge we face in climate disruption, and to do so in a way that makes our community more resilient.

By Oak Park Climate Action

The following letter was sent to Village Manager Kevin Jackson:
On behalf of the Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN), I am writing to advocate for the hiring of a director of Development Services who is dedicated to promoting climate action, sustainability, affordability, and transit/bike-ability/walkability within our vibrant community.

By Nick Bridge

I want to commend Louise Mezzatesta of River Forest for being an early adopter of the heat pump technology that promises to drastically improve the efficiency of heating our buildings [Electrify buildings? Maybe not quite yet, Viewpoints, June 7].

By Jim Schwartz

Climate change is an issue that must be addressed at all levels of our governmental, economic, and social systems. At the local level in Oak Park, 70% of our emissions come from our buildings. As such, we must move to reduce emissions from those buildings as a key component of addressing climate change. Electrifying those buildings is a key component of reducing their impact.

By Pamela Tate

In Climate Ready Oak Park, the village’s community climate action plan approved by the village board last year, we committed to a 60% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. To reach this critically important goal; we must not only reduce our emissions through more stringent building codes; electrifying transportation; expanding composting; retrofitting our homes with electric heating, cooling and cooking; and switching to rooftop or community solar; but also sequester or otherwise reduce carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere.

By Mike Trenary

Thinking of switching to an EV (electric vehicle)? Oak Park makes it easy. Many would-be EV owners are daunted by the question of where to charge, but our community boasts a growing number of chargers in public parking facilities. With always-free charging and free parking all day Sundays, fueling your drive could cost you $0 — and cost the planet nothing in climate-harming emissions if you use the solar-powered charging stations at The Avenue Garage, where the number of stations has grown from four to eight, and at North Boulevard.

By Oak Park Climate Action Network

The recently proposed residential project at Chicago and Ridgeland is a welcome reminder that Oak Park remains attractive to real estate developers. The question is: Will these developers, and many others, incorporate Climate Ready Oak Park goals in their blueprints?

By Wendy Greenhouse

New York, L.A., San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago … what’s stopping Oak Park from joining these and many other U.S. cities moving toward requiring new buildings to be gas-free?

By Amy Rosenal

We write as the Oak Park Climate Action Network (OPCAN), a group of village residents who use their expertise to advance climate action that is commensurate with the planet’s need and our community’s opportunities. Our mission is to eliminate Oak Park’s climate pollution through equitable policies and practices that benefit and engage us all.

By Mona Blaber

We appreciate Tim Kelly’s letter on electrification and Oak Park’s climate impact [Electrification has a downside, Viewpoints, June 22], but as people lose their homes, livelihoods and sometimes lives to climate-fueled natural disasters, we can’t just point out the obstacles to climate solutions anymore. We have to find ways to overcome them.

By Wendy Greenhouse

The environmental benefits of switching from natural gas to sustainably generated electricity are clear. Removing fossil fuels from our homes reduces carbon emissions, helps fight climate change, and makes our homes healthier to live in.

By Wendy Greenhouse

Fighting global climate warming and saving money are not the only arguments for replacing gas-powered appliances with all-electric: your gas-powered cooktop and oven may be hazardous to your health.

By Doug Burke

Thank you for publishing the excellent review by Nick Bridge of Saul Griffith’s very important book, Electrify Everything [‘Electrify’ is the key to the climate crisis, Viewpoints, Jan. 26]. This book is a serious, solid account of what must be done to avert catastrophic climate change. But it is also an optimistic look at a much cleaner and safer world that is within our power to create.

By Nick Bridge

We seem to be at an inflection point regarding our stance toward global warming; meaning that a lot is happening at all levels, from the international all the way down to our local households.