I was driving around shopping a couple weeks ago (OK, driving a single car, but I did arrange my errands so that I minimized mileage), and listening to NPR’s Here & Now. They interviewed Dr. Vijay Modi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at New York’s Columbia University, head of the Quadracci Sustainable Engineering Lab, former member of the UN Task Force on Sustainable Energy for All, and current leader of the UN working group on Energy Access for All, part of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Whew! Are you impressed yet? So when Dr. Modi talks, I listen intently.
Of course not everyone will be able to implement this solution, but I think it’s important to know that it is available for investment. And “it” is: Electric heat pumps. Not sexy, but well worth exploring, whether you need a new heat/cool system right now or not.
According to Dr. Modi, the vast majority of homes in the US are still heated with some form of fossil fuel; or if using an older electrical system, it’s inefficient. Modern electric heat pumps work to heat the air by taking outside heat and moving it indoors. On all but the coldest days, that makes it more efficient than standard furnaces. They also take heat from indoors in the summer and move it outside. Dr. Modi suggests that those who already have a working furnace install an electric heat pump in addition, using both as a dual system, turning the furnace on only on the very coldest days. This would work with current electrical systems and lower costs over an electric heat pump that could heat in extremely cold weather, and still save about 90% on carbon emissions. He notes that heating or cooling are the biggest uses of energy in homes.
Now comes the part that could make this solution difficult for some of us: Cost: $6-8000 depending on home size; but if it is a replacement for a system that needs replacing anyway, about $2000 more. Ouch.
But here are points to keep in mind: There may be rebates or other savings if your state or federal government has these for encouraging more efficient energy usage. When we win back the federal government in 2020, we can push for such rebates. Meanwhile, the electrical heat pump is cheaper to use: During cold weather, it cuts your utility bill approximately in half. Of course, if you own your own solar or wind power, your operating cost would be zero.
Our government, somewhat surprisingly in the era of *Rump, also has a great deal of information on heat pumps, including geothermal pumps which, if you have the money for this investment, is even easier on electricity. Find out more about the different type of heat pumps here. And discuss in the Comments!
in other environmental news
At First-Ever Native American Presidential Forum, Candidates Answer to Centuries of Injustice:
With Indian country’s electoral power growing, presidential hopefuls pledged to honor treaties and enact structural change.
The forum was held August 20, 2019. Ten Democratic candidates attended. One of the “high-priority items” was climate justice:
They wanted to know candidates’ specific plans for protecting water sources and for cleaning up already-contaminated tribal ones. “It’s great to talk about water rights,” Renee says. “But let’s hear something tangible.”
Blogathon on DK, Coming for the Climate: September 20-27
(WORLDWIDE CLIMATE STRIKES: Sept. 20 and 27)
https://www.dailykos.com/...
Join the Climate Blogathon Group:
https://www.dailykos.com/…
The Mormon Church supplied tainted water to its members for years
The spring from which Aspencrest draws its drinking water has a history of bacterial contamination. According to an August 2018 memo, the camp’s primary water source has tested positive for coliform bacteria since 1995. Tests reveal that the bacteria were still present as of June 2019.
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Meanwhile, Aspencrest is not the first, or only, LDS-operated water system to experience problems to which the Division of Drinking Water turned a blind eye.
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“They were such religious zealots that (they believed you could) do whatever you want, because God wouldn’t let something bad happen.”
Chaos, chaos, chaos': a journey through Bolsonaro's Amazon inferno
A depressing look at Brazil under Bolsonaro:
“Every year we do campaigns [against fire-starting] but it’s as if the more campaigns you do the worse it gets,” he said. “It leaves us with little faith humans will ever understand they need to protect the environment.”
For Pope Francis, a Perfect Moment for an Unsettling Warning on the Environment
Pope Francis has been influential. He highlights problems on a visit to Madagascar with a message to all.
“Your lovely island of Madagascar is rich in plant and animal biodiversity, yet this treasure is especially threatened by excessive deforestation, from which some profit,” Francis said Saturday in Madagascar’s capital, Antananarivo, about an hour’s drive from the lemur reserve. “The last forests are menaced by forest fires, poaching, the unrestricted cutting down of valuable woodlands.”
Forest grows in the middle of a football stadium : Art exhibit in Austria
The juxtaposition of the imposing trees sprouting up alongside the stadium's spectator seats, concrete ground and floodlights is a powerful sight.
Thank you to Regenerative Culture members who shared news and links! These diaries would not be possible without you!
Edited for clarity: Hot air Heat.