We’ve had hotter warmth waves in Southern California, however I don’t recall any as miserable because the one which simply ended. The humidity that confirmed up a number of days in. The specter of rolling blackouts. The dangerously scorching playgrounds. And the climate forecasts that sapped us of hope, seemingly daily tacking on one other 100-degree day on the finish.
And we didn’t even have it so unhealthy. Did you hear how scorching it received in Sacramento?
This warmth wave was additionally a second of reckoning for California because it adopts inexperienced vitality and transportation mandates to fight local weather change. Readers questioned how the shift to electrical automobiles would play out if the ability grid virtually broke supplying vitality to everybody’s air conditioners. Others expressed alarm over worse warmth waves sooner or later amid intensifying world warming and continued fossil gasoline manufacturing. Some mentioned their houses, even air conditioned ones, grew to become dangerously scorching.
Studying all these letters made one factor clear: Even in a spot the place warmth waves are nothing new, the close to and distant future in a lot of California could also be insupportable with out critical adjustments.
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To the editor: I’m a disabled senior with continual obstructive pulmonary illness who lives in an condo with air-con.
Sadly, my constructing is 50 years outdated with a really unusual air-con system. When it’s actually scorching outdoors, my condo will get to virtually 90 levels, and I really feel like I’m going to die.
The worst half is different tenants appear to have air-con that works — not nice, however OK. I’d say my condo is uninhabitable, however since nobody cares how scorching it will get, the state wants higher legal guidelines to deal with this.
I’ve a cat and won’t depart it on this scorching residence alone. That is fairly unhappy. I’m additionally poor on Social Safety, and I really feel like I get half of what I pay for in lease. Please, somebody repair this mess.
Sherry Gertz, Valley Glen
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To the editor: Gov. Gavin Newson, Democrats and leftist media are driving California and making an attempt to steer the U.S. again into the stone age with their obsession with electrification with out supportive infrastructure. No electrical energy, no appropriate batteries, no recycling processes.
We’ll be again to candle and torchlight whereas strolling. And Newsom desires to be president. That is all nuts.
Earl Barnett, Visalia, Calif.
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To the editor: The blare heard throughout the state saved the grid on one scorching evening in September. However what might we save — and the way a lot much less vitality would we want — if all of us conserved vitality daily? What if we even arrange a few of our methods to be extra energy-efficient?
Contemplate workplace air-con in buildings which are practically empty on many summer season days. These buildings’ thermostats are usually set to 72 levels across the clock. How a lot would we save by setting them to 78 levels from 5 p.m. to six a.m.?
Contemplate the near-blinding lighting at automobile dealerships and parking tons. What would we save by putting in movement sensors, or slicing again only a hair on the quantity and depth of lights?
There are answers throughout us that don’t require some huge cash — or actually a lot in any respect, moreover dedication and initiative.
Susan Rakov, Santa Barbara
The author is director of the Frontier Group, an environmental analysis group.
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To the editor: Throughout this oppressive warmth wave, there was loads of concern in regards to the vitality consumption utilized by charging electrical automobiles and the way it might affect the strained energy grid. The plan to modify from inner combustion engines to electrical raises loads of questions on having sufficient capability through the rising variety of scorching spells.
From a technical standpoint, electrical automobiles may be an answer to this drawback. Electrical automobiles can retailer vitality throughout low-demand durations and, with the best gear and laws, return it again to the grid throughout high-demand durations.
Many electrical automobiles have giant batteries able to going 300 miles or extra. Most of that capability isn’t used and might be put to make use of to degree out durations between low and peak durations. In addition they can be utilized to maintain home equipment operating throughout blackouts.
The state, utilities and auto business leaders ought to work collectively now to work out the technical points. California has the chance as soon as once more to steer the nation in fixing our local weather and vitality points.
Alan Coles, Lengthy Seaside
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To the editor: I’m not turning the air conditioner down. That is the explanation I purchased one. I’m operating it full blast at 62 levels, and it’s heaven.
Jack Spiegelman, Los Angeles
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To the editor: After I acquired the textual content message from the state of California warning of rolling blackouts with out instant electrical energy conservation, I thought of it, mentioned “what the heck” and bumped up the thermostat a large 1 diploma.
I felt good about doing it. I additionally felt good studying out of your reporting {that a} bunch of my brothers and sisters in California did related issues, which prevented rolling blackouts in a lot of state.
This was a win-win, for every particular person and for the collective. Kudos to those that helped.
Richie Locasso, Hemet
