Think electrification
About this time of the year, especially this year, you may be hearing the low hum of your neighbor’s air conditioner when you’re taking out the trash. Wow, you think, “It’s been unseasonably warm but not this warm.” Some Los Altans are prone to attribute this to changes in our local climate, but running air conditioners in February? Come on. Someone ought to write a letter to the Los Altos Town Crier about this!
Wait a minute – maybe it’s one of those heat pump HVAC things. Yes, that’s it. A furnace and air conditioner all-in-one – you may have heard about. They’ve been around a few years now and are technically mature and widely available – ideal for the Los Altos climate. Many neighbors are gradually renovating their homes to make them 100% electric. The process is what we in the Electrification Collaboration call an “electrification journey.” Heat pump HVACs are just one of the bigger steps along the way.
There are these reasons:
1) Electrified homes sell at a premium and you can justify the extra cost in terms of increased home value. 2) Heat pumps deliver exceptional comfort because in summer or winter you get that gentle, always right temperature. 3) You’d be taking a big step towards fuel independence because heat pumps pull free energy right out of the air, 300% more efficient, inflation proof. 4) Well, there really is this climate consideration, even in our local paradise. Has your neighbor perhaps done the right thing?
David Cain
Los Altos
A small act of Los Altos kindness
One late afternoon while walking my dog Harvey, a woman who owns (or works) at the beauty store Blue Mercury on Main Street (in downtown Los Altos) came out the door and enthusiastically asked if she could pet our dog. Her name is Jody, and she is a huge dog lover. She went back into the store and brought Harvey a dog treat as she showered him with affection. Now each time we are within a block or so of the Blue Mercury, Harvey begins to pull me to Jody’s store, where she and her coworkers always have hugs, pets and treats for him. On many days there are other dog walkers either in front of the store or patiently waiting outside for their turn. It is quite a special scene. When I leave the Blue Mercury I am smiling and simply feel better about the day. Jody’s kindness reminds me of the small things that can help make a community great!
Jerry Brodkey
Los Altos
Move the money around
I received a notice today from the City Manager’s Office, asking me to prioritize such things as fire protection versus such things as repairing potholes. Apparently we don’t have enough money for both.
It occurs to me that if things are indeed this dire – that we can’t afford both fire protection and street maintenance simultaneously – then the first thing the city should do is stop spending money we don’t have on things people don’t want. The city has already approved the expenditure of $2.3 million for design and “community engagement” (i.e how best to force this on people who don’t want it …) regarding a park project that will cost $20 million, reduce downtown parking and disrupt downtown businesses.
Let’s forget about the park, cancel the “community engagement” project, bank the money, and use the interest to build a safe emergency dispatch center and fix some potholes.
William Brown
Los Altos
