Author: Editor
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Yearly heating bill for a new mini-split heat pump – a closer look!
Affordability is of course a primary concern in decisions like what to heat your house with, as heating bills can put a substantial dent in anyone’s budget. And – good news! — the marketing of heat pump installers insists that you’ll save money on your heating bills. But you’re skeptical (and so am I)! So,…
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What’s wrong with Bitcoin?
Cryptocurrencies have garnered lots of attention, and a fair amount of hype as well, over the past 5-10 years. The ‘first-mover’ in this space was Bitcoin, and so it has had the advantage of being the ‘go-to’ option for crypto investors and speculators, and it also has a lead in development of additional “investment packaging”. …
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Thinking about garbage, recycling, and composting
It may be an ‘odiferous’ topic, but how you manage garbage, recycling, and composting can substantially reduce your climate footprint. Most homeowners today subscribe to the garbage pickup services, and pay ~$32 – $40 per month for the privilege. But if you want to maximize your recycling and composting, and minimize your landfill impact, you…
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Selecting your next home heating system
It’s the big decisions in life that really affect our global warming footprint, and certainly the choice of a home heating system in a state such as New York qualifies as a big decision. Once you’ve subscribed to a community solar farm, and switched to a renewable electricity provider, you’ve ensured that heating your home…
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Making the shift from gas-powered cars to EV’s
Electric cars and SUV’s have recently become substantially more viable as an everyday alternative to using the traditional gas-powered car or SUV. Even with the ‘growing pains’ that are experienced in any major technology transition, it is an exciting opportunity to participate in the shift away from carbon-based fuels. Some of the EV’s available today…
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Installing a ‘hybrid’ water heater
Water heaters generally only last 10 to 15 years, after which it’s time to find a replacement. Recently, hybrid heat pump water heaters have entered the market, and can provide a very cost-effective solution. Water heaters are rated via the ‘Uniform Energy Factor’ (UEF), which for heat pump units is basically the same as the…
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Choosing an electricity supplier
By default, your electricity supplier is your utility company. However, in most states (including New York), you can choose from many competing suppliers. You can also choose a supplier of 100% renewable electricity. Little-known fact: Some of the renewable suppliers are sometimes less expensive than the ‘traditional’ suppliers! Looking at the New York State comparison…
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Community Solar options in New York State
New York State has started a program with National Grid and NYSEG, where you can save up to 10% on your electricity bill (including ‘supply’ and ‘delivery’), simply by signing up with a community solar farm. In essence, you get allocated a portion of a solar farm’s capacity, and the electricity generated (in kilowatt-hours) from…