Letters: Our climate is in trouble. Chicago needs a ban on methane gas in new buildings.
Briefly

The article argues against the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board's position on banning methane gas in new buildings. It highlights the potential financial savings for residents through electrification, citing a 2022 NRDC study which estimates savings of $11,000 to $24,000 over 20 years. It emphasizes the significant greenhouse gas emissions from residential buildings, which could be reduced by over half with a ban, and challenges the notion that electrification merely shifts emissions to electric power generation, asserting that using electric heat pumps remains beneficial for emissions reduction.
A 2022 Natural Resources Defense Council study found that Chicagoans could save roughly $11,000 to $24,000 over 20 years by ditching expensive methane gas and fully electrifying their homes.
In reality, a methane gas ban would significantly reduce Chicago's greenhouse gas emissions. Residential buildings contributed 27% of Chicago's greenhouse gas emissions.
The electrification of Chicago homes will increase the demand for electricity from the power grid...even if the grid is 100% powered by methane gas, using electric heat pumps instead of gas furnaces in homes would still save greenhouse gas emissions.
Read at Chicago Tribune
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