pedalmore
@pedalmore@lemmy.world
- Comment on 10 months ago:
Capacity and generation are two different things. Grid operators have capacity markets that ensure peak load can be met, and incude generations assets, demand response, energy efficiency, etc. Batteries absolutely coumt as capacity so long as they are managed to do so.
- Comment on Gel and lithium-ion tech could enable 1000-mile EV range on one charge 10 months ago:
They weren’t talking about how long EVs have been around, but for anyone curious EVs generally predate ICE cars and were quite popular around 1900. …wikipedia.org/…/History_of_the_electric_vehicle
- Comment on Poignant post on the state of things 11 months ago:
To me the point is more that the post WW2 boom and the resulting ability of a cashier to buy a home and support a family was somewhat an aberration, not a new normal. Something similar could happen again if the conditions were right (much more modest house building via major zoning reform, free education, healthcare, and childcare, high taxes on the wealthy) but we’re not actually achieving those necessary things politically, so here we are. And even if we did achieve all that, new homes won’t look like current new homes because 4000 ft2 suburban homes are fundamentally unsustainable.
- Comment on Americans are asleep, post European windows 11 months ago:
Yep. Source: am in Colorado and have triple pane tilt turn windows, and know several others with them. They are super nice and slowly growing in popularity.
- Comment on puzzling 1 year ago:
Is there some special type of 5000 piece enthusiast puzzle I haven’t heard of? A regular 5000 piece puzzle should take up one large table with a little spillover depending on style and like 50 hours of total work, so easily a month tops. I can’t imagine anyone taking 18 months.
- Comment on Heat-pump water heaters are a winner for the climate — and your wallet 1 year ago:
Awesome. I so wanted the Sanco2 but the price put it out of reach, and we don’t use enough hot water toake the payback remotely reasonable. For anyone else reading, it’s an R744 (CO2) refrigerant system that’s massively better for the environment than HFCs (and HFOs) as well.
- Comment on Heat-pump water heaters are a winner for the climate — and your wallet 1 year ago:
There’s a federal tax credit worth 2k for HPWH. I’m not aware of any Ohio specific subsidies, although there are programs coming through the IRA that are run through the states and will offer more incentives.
- Comment on Heat pumps can't take the cold? Nordics debunk the myth 1 year ago:
The overwhelming majority of even high end cold climate ASHPs do not function at -40 C/F. -20F, that’s doable.
- Comment on Heat pumps can't take the cold? Nordics debunk the myth 1 year ago:
Second the NEEP database. I’d just add that the lowest temps listed here aren’t the actual equipment minimums - each model has a cutoff temp where it will literally shit the bed (except ground source of course). For my mistu hyper heat, it’s -26F. Capacity will keep dropping after -13F though (where it’s still at like 80% I think).
- Comment on Heat pumps can't take the cold? Nordics debunk the myth 1 year ago:
You made the most sensible choice and are dramatically reducing you gas use, so you should feel good about that! I have a new Mitsu hyper heat (Colorado here), but recognize it wasn’t the most cost effective system and ultimately just really wanted it. It’s bonkers how well it work though. We’ve only hit 10F this last weekend but it didn’t skip a beat. Looking forward to -10F. For most people, keeping a gas furnace for a few weeks a year, and using a smaller heat pump than you would spec if only using a HP makes a lot of sense. You’re not missing much (and some would argue that peak winter demand in an electrifying world is a big problem that has backup gives us more time to solve anyway).
- Comment on Heat pumps can't take the cold? Nordics debunk the myth 1 year ago:
MFers need a refresher on the concept of absolute zero.
- Comment on The US electrical grid is in desperate need of upgrades, watchdog warns 1 year ago:
I think I gave off the wrong impression that these are more linked than they are, sorry. Many states require cost effective EE because it’s generally good policy (benefits outweigh costs), and some of those benefits include not having to build new capacity. PUCs generally also support infrastructure investments, and with guaranteed rates of return on most T&D for example, it’s a no brainer. So states are often doing both, and there are varying options about the merits of each. To your question though, one notable recent example is the gas pipeline that Gov Cuomo vetoed, which led to more gas efficiency programs in downstate NY.
I’m also embarrassed to report I can’t think of a good source for you since I’m in the industry, other than primary sources like utility financial statements, rate cases, state regulations, etc. Hope this was helpful - it’s a fascinating industry.
- Comment on The US electrical grid is in desperate need of upgrades, watchdog warns 1 year ago:
This is not a remotely accurate assessment of demand side management programs. Such programs are overwhelmingly required of IOUs by states since they tend to be cheaper than infrastructure upgrades for everyone. Utilities on the other hand tend to prefer infrastructure upgrades because they get a guaranteed rate of return typically. You have this completely backwards.
- Comment on Oxford study proves heat pumps triumph over fossil fuels in the cold 1 year ago:
And the naysayers don’t actually run calculations to see what their true costs might be, they already decided gas is king. A couple of good ol boy type HVAC folks that all say “just get a furnace” is all they need to know, reality be damned.
- Comment on Oxford study proves heat pumps triumph over fossil fuels in the cold 1 year ago:
I don’t agree with generalizing that ROI is slow and small. There are too many variables here specific to each market, location, and home. Someone with an old propane or oil boiler that is already planning to buy a new AC will absolutely see massive ROI going with a heat pump. In the US, federal standards will make furnaces more expensive (condensing only soon) and heat pump costs can be heavily subsidized. I bought a new HP that was cheaper than my neighbors new AC/furnace after incentives, and my running costs will be lower.