Climate Policy

[--Pete]

Hi,

Rather than credits, I think it would be helpful to provide low interest loans (maybe a special class of 2nd mortgage) attached to the home.

That's a good idea, but who would make the loan? The government? Not their job (I think we agree on that). Banks? They owe their investors the maximum ROR they can get -- so why should they make low interest loans? The utility companies? That might be the right way to go. The more co-generation they can get going, the less they have to invest in expanding their capacity. Many utilities already have incentives, though I don't know of any that give loans for co-generation. However, a number of them did (maybe still do) grant loans for things like insulation, etc.

For northern climates, I think ground installed geothermal heat pumps make the most sense for domestic heating, . . .

They make the most sense anywhere except maybe in temperate climates near bodies of water where the external exchange could be hydro based. Since a pump sized for the maximum load would be overkill (and use too much energy on the average), the addition of a dual fuel supplemental heating system also makes much sense. The payback on such a system is, often, about equal to the life span of the system. It also makes more sense to put it in as original equipment rather than as a retrofit. Part of the problem, of course, is that it adds a lot to the initial cost, making a poor choice for low income housing. And that is a shame, because it is precisely the people who need low income housing who need the reduced costs of a well designed heating system. Unfortunately, the economics of the situation are pretty much pay me now or pay me latter (or sometimes both).

. . . with electricity generation being done by the best renewable method for that area (nuclear, wind, geothermal steam, solar, tidal, etc.).

Actually, even non-renewable sources can be suitable for the interim. Again, a balance is needed. Neither the fanaticism of the Greens nor the greed of the petro-industry should be our guiding principle.

BTW, why do people include nuclear with renewable? Clean, yes. Eco-friendly, yes. Uses a fuel with no better uses? Yes. But renewable? Not unless you have a super-nova handy.

--Pete