Green Remodel: Just Research
Following up on resident concerns raised in a recent interview discussing the newly approved “Green Remodeling” project, Lakewood Mayor Pro Tem Wendi Strom and the Sustainability Committee Chair, Glenn Weadock, responded that this was just research, that outcomes had yet to be determined and no policies have been set. The implication of project approval is that City Council and the Sustainability Committee agree that green remodeling is a worthy city goal to be sustainable and reduce greenhouse emissions. In this case, research may involve electrification, i.e., replacing gas with electricity in places such as your stove.
Weadock writes: “The Lakewood Advisory Council is a research entity, not a policy entity. Our job is to provide relevant facts to policymakers so that they can make informed decisions. The “green remodeling” project is essentially an extension of work that the LAC has already done in prior years via the Renewable Energy Mitigation Proposal (REMP). The LAC sustainability committee will be studying the pros and cons of several types of electrification in the context of home renovation and remodeling. What the city council chooses to do with the information we provide, in terms of policy changes, will be up to them as elected officials, but it is certainly appropriate for Lakewood city government to evaluate the possibilities for making the city more sustainable for all its residents, and important to do so in a well-informed manner.”
In the past, project researchers often interpret research approval as a mandate for recommendations to “do something”. In many cases, “pros and cons” are presented only for certain recommendations, but the pros and cons are not necessarily considered for the original base assumption. For example, in the Green Remodeling Project, there may be pros and cons presented for a certain type of electrification, but the original base assumption, that electrification is good, is likely to be considered “a given” and will go unchallenged. Home chefs who enjoy their gas stove may not want to switch to an electric stove, but somehow the question of “is it necessary?” is not discussed, but rather “how much is necessary?” (no such discussion has yet occurred on this project)
Disclosure statement: This author is a member of the Lakewood Advisory Committee (LAC) and admittedly has personal biases on most of these issues since witnessing the debates firsthand.
Mayor Pro Tem Strom clarifies: “Procedurally, the Lakewood Advisory Commission (LAC) needs City Council’s approval to move forward on study projects that the LAC volunteer members deem to be of interest and/or benefit to the city. Members of the LAC approached us because they would like to research opportunities and other impacts of policy that may be considered by City Council that could help our residents increase energy efficiency through home remodeling projects, as well as efforts that could help reduce reliance on our electrical grid and consider emissions of greenhouse gasses. The LAC members also mentioned that there are funds available at both the State and Federal level that may be available for some of this work. “
She continued, “No specifics were voted on, and this research is likely a project that we will not hear back on for quite some time due to the scope of the research. However, the Council’s approval was both necessary and required for the LAC to move forward gathering information. To date, I’m not aware of any Council conversations around gas stoves specifically.”
Strom notes, “For anyone that would like to see the full conversation, it can be found at minute 49:13 of the 07/10/2023 Lakewood City Council meeting at this Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKcqTgSiI1o . The staff memo referenced in the video of the City Council meeting can be found and reviewed here: https://lakewoodspeaks.org/items/3091.”
Residents will have a chance to make their voices heard about any new policy when the final report is presented to City Council. This research is just the first step towards the city taking any action. It also may result in no action. This project idea was not petitioned by an overwhelming number of residents making their voices heard through Council; it is the result of a few individuals. Historically, there are relatively few new actions or policies resulting from LAC research, which is its own frustration to LAC members.
The Lakewood Advisory Commission also recently gained approval for noise pollution research. This will include research into gas-powered outdoor equipment, such as leaf-blowers and lawn mowers, that are noisier than their electric counterparts.
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