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Residential energy efficiency improvements twice the cost of benefits

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What about if the cost is free? (Score: 1)

by fishybell@pipedot.org on 2015-08-19 22:54 (#HWVX)

I remember someone coming by my house and doing energy savings fixes (seal holes, add attic insulation, etc.) to my house for free. There was some government program (I don't remember if it was state or federal, but I'm fairly sure federal) that paid the contractor directly for each house finished.

My limited economic knowledge says if the government says "we'll pay up to X of the cost," then that's the exact number contractors will charge. The free-ness of the project is felt by the same person who reaps the benefits (lower monthly bills), and so I'm not sure I'm against this at all. While it is, as far as the article is concerned, wasteful, it's only wasting money and the energy needed to do the upgrade, which I'm sure is offset by the energy saved. If it only costs the state and federal governments money (by which I mean, if it only costs everyone a small amount of money) to help against climate change, then I'm all for it. If there is graft or gouging going on (which if there's a government contract, there almost definitely is), then I'm also for fixing that. These two choices are not mutually exclusive.

Re: What about if the cost is free? (Score: 1)

by evilviper@pipedot.org on 2015-08-20 19:35 (#HZWN)

The study is saying the government should stop paying for such programs.
it's only wasting money and the energy needed to do the upgrade, which I'm sure is offset by the energy saved.
The study says otherwise, claiming only half the invested money is returned in energy savings.

Re: What about if the cost is free? (Score: 2, Insightful)

by billshooterofbul@pipedot.org on 2015-08-21 14:54 (#J2D6)

He's not talking about money, but energy. Probably meaning the amount of C02 given off by the expense of the energy. The study was focused on cost, which is a good thing to keep an eye on for sure. But if anther goal is C02 reduction, then for some people with enough disposable income and that care enough about such things then the amount of C02 released is also important potentially more so.

I can't tell you how freaking annoying it is to get an appliance installed and have to fight for a more efficient device, even if its at higher cost. I was debating getting a new water heater, and the installer told me to do it now while they still sold the old cheaper less efficient models, in a few months they'd only sell the high efficiency ones. He was kind of shocked when I told him to call me when they had the high efficiency ones. I probably won't save the amount of extra money it costs, but its not a significant amount of money to me at this point and its the right thing to do.

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2015-08-21 14:54
He's not talking about money, but energy. Probably meaning the amount of C02 given off by the expense of the energy. The study was focused on cost, which is a good thing to keep an eye on for sure. But if anther goal is C02 reduction, then for some people with enough disposable income and that care enough about such things then the amount of C02 released is also important potentially more so.

I can't tell you how freaking annoying it is to get an appliance installed and have to fight for a more efficient device, even if its at higher cost. I was debating getting a new water heater, and the installer told me to do it now while they still sold the old cheaper less efficient models, in a few months they'd only sell the high efficiency ones. He was kind of shocked when I told him to call me when they had the high efficiency ones. I probably won't save the amount of extra money it costs, but its not a significant amount of money to me at this point and its the right thing to do.

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Time Reason Points Voter
2015-08-21 16:21 Insightful +1 bryan@pipedot.org

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