HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/5/2023 Item 7a, Bradshaw
Justin Bradshaw <
To:E-mail Council Website
Subject:Existing Building Retrofit policy
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Dear Council,
My name is Justin Bradshaw and I’m a business owner here in SLO, a founding member of the SLO Climate Coalition and
a dad to a 12 year old. It’s been a while since I’ve been here to comment because you’ve been doing such great work I
didn’t think it’s necessary but I have a small apology for that because I know it’s important to get the encouraging
comments as much as the constructive criticism.
With a rich history of climate action leadership already established in this chamber, I’m proud of what you’ve
accomplished as well as really excited for the item before you on the agenda! Thankfully we have no SoCalGas mafia
here, I mean union, tonight… but rest assured the skeptics of our work are out there and know how to be vocal, so
history tells us that the way we approach this topic is very important.
Let’s start with the facts: Climate Change is real. It’s bad and we’ve committed to doing our level best to be carbon
neutral by 2035 and to share with the world how we got there. We’re on the forefront of this issue, as we should be. We
know that at existing buildings are a huge part of total emissions. We also know that replacing natural gas appliances is
the only way to get there… and that water and space heating are the main culprits for those emissions.
Greenies like me are already taking the steps to upgrade our homes. To my home with solar panels and a tesla battery,
I’m adding an 80 gal RHEEM smart water heater with SunWork very soon and will register it with a demand response
program so it’s an asset to the grid on day ONE. I’ll also be replacing my gas furnace with a Heat Pump soon after that
with the generous federal, state and community choice incentives available…. but not everyone even knows about these
opportunities and the benefits that come with an all electric home.
I’m an Apple Consultant for small business and families and when I tell them about this stuff, they hire me to help them
do it because it’s complicated. That’s great for people who want and can afford the white glove experience and an
expert on their side, but it’s not going to get the whole city retrofitted, so I’m excited about the Coalition’s work to
establish a carbon concierge program and encourage the city to support it… along with any other thing that’s in your
arsenal to get the word out…. because the federal money alone is going to be a deluge this coming year and it would be
a shame for our community to miss out on that support. We need to move quickly with the options your staff has ready
for you… and keep all others on the table so we can implement them as soon as possible.
So that’s my ask: promote the benefits of the all electric home, the opportunity for vast incentives, and be transparent
about the need to move fast. Then back it up with strong policy that nudges, then cajoles and then pushes our property
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owners to do the right thing so we can make good on our promise to be carbon neutral by 2035 and so we can show the
rest of California, the United States and the world, how it’s done!
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!
Justin Bradshaw
SLO Climate Coalition
Leadership Team
carbonfreeslo.org
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