Expanding Arizona’s solar mandate

Re “Where A/C’s not a luxury: It’s survival,” Aug. 4

In the desert Southwest, it is clear that soaring summer temperatures will make most of its cities uninhabitable without air conditioning.

This problem is compounded by the continued reliance on fossil fuels for power generation and transportation. Only 17% of Arizona’s energy generation is renewable, compared with 84% in South Dakota.

Although the upfront costs are high, Arizona should require every new housing development to generate its own solar power, with adequate storage to power lifesaving air conditioning even at night, while requiring all new shopping center and other large parking lots to be shaded with solar panels.

Over time, these improvements will make financial as well as environmental sense. A subsidy should be provided for homeowners to upgrade their A/C systems to withstand the rigors of sustained high temperatures.

Jonathan Kaunitz

Santa Monica

Los Angeles has been spared the blistering heat of cities like Phoenix, but let’s not kid ourselves — the weather hasn’t been decent for everyone in the city.

Yes, some days we’re fortunate enough to be protected from the morning sun thanks to the marine layer, but what about the heat after it burns away or days when we don’t get a layer at all?

Unless you live in the cushy green neighborhoods of West L.A., you’re left incredibly exposed to the heat because of the lack of tree canopy and vegetation, nature’s cooling system.

As the city waits for a decision on the potential mandate for A/C in all rental units, not everybody can say that the weather has been nice.

Karen Cederholm Los Angeles