"The editorial board is afraid that a methane gas ban would make buildings less affordable. We don't understand the board's position because as a power source, methane gas is far more expensive than electricity to heat our homes and businesses. 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. According to the "City of Chicago Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report" issued in 2019, residential buildings - single-family homes and apartment buildings - contributed 27% of Chicago's greenhouse gas emissions while commercial and institutional buildings and facilities contributed another 25%. The above-mentioned 2022 NRDC study concluded that these greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by more than half just by replacing all methane gas furnaces with electric heat pumps in these buildings."
Chicago faces a climate emergency that warrants bold action such as banning methane gas in new buildings. Methane gas as a power source is far more expensive than electricity for heating homes and businesses. A 2022 Natural Resources Defense Council study estimated Chicago households could save roughly $11,000 to $24,000 over 20 years by electrifying. Residential buildings account for 27% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions, and commercial and institutional buildings contribute another 25%. Replacing methane furnaces with electric heat pumps could reduce building-related greenhouse gas emissions by more than half. Even on a grid powered entirely by methane, electric heat pumps would still cut emissions versus gas furnaces.
Read at Chicago Tribune
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]