OPCAN’s Recommendations for D97 Facilities Plan
William Beye Elementary School in Oak Park, IL
Dear D97 Board Members,
We write to you to recommend that D97 adopt a sustainable, low-emissions pathway with its 10-year Facilities Improvement Plan currently under review. First, we want to commend the District for its inclusion of emissions-reducing proposals as core parts of the plan through rooftop replacement and insulation and as supplemental “additional considerations” through LED lighting and full or staged electrification. We believe that these steps are crucial to D97’s future sustainability and fiscal operations.
D97 has publicly set and approved an ambitious climate goal (Policy 4.72 - GHG goal) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 45% by 2030 (from 2010 levels), reaching net zero by 2050. Crucially, this aligns with the Village of Oak Park’s Climate Ready Oak Park (CROP) Plan and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement. In order to make tangible progress toward these goals, D97 will need to begin electrifying its facilities now and procuring renewable energy within the scope of this 10-year plan (which goes through 2035).
Specifically, we urge you to adopt the following:
Replace the Beye Elementary School boiler with an efficient electric system and avoid locking D97 into 40 years of additional fossil fuel-driven emissions;
Adopt staged electrification as part of the facilities improvement plan, and prioritize full-electrification in a limited number of schools rather than upgrades of electric panels in all schools as a first stage. This will accelerate emissions reductions in line with Policy 4.72, particularly as new air conditioners and filters will increase emissions and energy use.
Develop a comprehensive electrification plan for all facilities and energy usage to meet the District’s greenhouse gas reduction goals.
It is important to weigh the lifecycle costs of all approaches. While it is true that electricity prices are increasing, natural gas prices are increasing at a similar rate. According to the Future of Gas in Illinois Report by the Building Decarbonization Coalition, natural gas prices will double for Nicor Gas (our utility) customers some time between 2032 and 2034. Electric heat pumps are up to four times more efficient than other heating equipment, like gas boilers. For these reasons and more, we believe staged electrification is a fiscally and morally responsible choice for the D97 board. There may be opportunities to receive funding to create the building electrification plan that we propose. We are eager to work with you to identify those opportunities, and our colleague, Mac Robinet, has already reached out with some specific ideas.
Thank you for your time and consideration. We would be happy to answer any questions you have about these recommendations and look forward to a Facilities Plan that secures sustainable and resilient outcomes for District 97.
Sincerely,
Cindy Klein-Banai, D97 FAC and Sustainability Task Force, OPCAN Member
Macey Majkrzak, D97 FAC, OPCAN Member
Derek Eder, Oak Park Village Trustee, OPCAN Member
Amy Rosenthal, OPCAN Organizer
Dave Marshall, OPCAN Member