Oak Park is looking at making it a little cooler in local apartments, to help bring the village in line with other neighboring communities.
Trustees took a first look Monday at an ordinance change that would drop the minimum required temperature in multi-family homes from 70 degrees, down to 68 during the daytime (6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.). The proposed change would also shorten Oak Park’s “heating season” by about 15 days so it would now run from Sept. 15 to June 1.
The required temperature at nighttime (11 p.m. to 6:30 a.m.) would stay the same, at 65 degrees during the heating season. Officials say the shift will help Oak Park match up with the requirements of other communities.
The Oak Park Residence Corp., which manages 25 apartment buildings here, first requested the village decrease the required minimum temperature. A survey of a dozen or so other communities in the area showed that the village had the highest requirement of its neighbors, said Ed Solan, executive director.
Switching the temperature will lessen environmental impacts and save dollars in the pocketbooks of local property owners.
“We felt, given Oak Park’s reputation for environmental concern, that this is something the village should look at,” Solan said.
Trustees had no comment on the proposed heating changes on Monday. They’re scheduled to make a final decision on it next Monday, Oct. 25.
CONTACT: mstempniak@wjinc.com
