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.