Curious and enthusiastic attendees at OPCAN’s 2026 Clean Energy Open Houses on Oct. 4 reflected growing public interest in making homes cleaner, safer, more efficient, and cheaper by switching from fossil fuels to electricity. Visitors toured our two typical vintage Oak Park homes to learn about induction stoves, heat pump heating and cooling systems, heat pump hot water heaters, rooftop solar arrays, geothermal systems, and EV home charging. Homeowners and contractors were on hand to answer questions.
We’re grateful to generous homeowners Derek Eder and Aya O’Connor, and Macey and Lee Majkrzak; volunteers Bill Arnold, Daniel Becker, Nick Bridge, Laura Derks, Cindy Klein-Banai, Ben Levine, CJ Melodia, Amy Rosenthal, and Phyllis Rubin; and Matt and Mike Nickels of Energy Matters, Joe Konopacki of Insight Property Services, and Dirk Dypold of Advanced Geothermal. Additional thanks to Laura and Aya and to Claudia Doyle for their help.
If you missed the open houses, remember that OPCAN’s Climate Coaches program can connect you with a homeowner who can share experience in a specific sustainable home upgrade or help you prioritize as you consider the process of home electrification.
Sign up for a free coaching session at https://opcan.org/climate-coaches and start making your home more sustainable, enhancing its value, and fighting climate change — all at the same time.
Wendy Greenhouse
Oak Park