HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/1/2022 Item 7a, Stannard
Delgado, Adriana
From:Sandy Stannard <stannard@calpoly.edu>
Sent:Thursday, January
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:PLEASE... Remove the natural gas compliance pathway for new buildings
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SLO City Council Members:
I am writing to urge you to remove the natural gas compliance pathway for new buildings (per your staff
recommendation).
I am an architect and professor of architecture at Cal Poly. I have been a resident of San Luis Obispo for 20 years.
I have dedicated my career to engaging in professional work as well as teaching college students about sustainable
design issues. I worked on two U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon projects with Cal Poly students and faculty;
100% solar electric design/build projects that demonstrated the power (and beauty) of solar energy
\[https://www.solardecathlon.gov/\]. The goal of that competition at its inception in 2002 was to assist in PV's
penetration into the residential market; that goal is well underway, which is a key target toward meeting our collective
climate action goals. However, natural gas is getting in the way.
We have no more time left for talk; now is the time for action. Please remove the natural gas compliance pathway for
new buildings in San Luis Obispo.
I share the SLO Climate Coalitions assertions:
All-electric buildings are healthier, cleaner, and more affordable.
o Children living in a home with a gas stove have a significantly increased risk of developing
asthma.
o All-electric buildings have been shown to be cost effective to build and operate.
o It would be costly for SLO to install fossil gas appliances in new buildings and then later retrofit
those buildings to remove the gas.
SLO City is falling behind on climate leadership. More than 50 California cities and counties have
already committed to phasing out natural gas in new buildings. Our peer cities Santa Barbara and
Santa Cruz have both committed to all-electric buildings.
SLO City is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2035. SLO City will not reach this goal at
the current rate of building electrification. It makes no sense to continue installing new fossil gas
infrastructure in new buildings.
Please be firm in your resolve and do the right thing for our future. Remove the natural gas compliance
pathway for new buildings.
Thank you.
Sandy Stannard
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1
Sandy Stannard, Architect, LEED AP
Professor of Architecture
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
http://architecture.calpoly.edu/faculty/stannard
2