Bummer: The UK Is Having A Tough Time Forcing People To Switch To Heat Pumps

By William Teach May 27, 2021 – 3:00 pm

It’s not like they are a lot more expensive than natural gas and electricity home and water heating units, right? Why aren’t all the Warmists rushing out to get them?

The UK is sabotaging its own plan to decarbonize heating

Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHPs) are seen as a crucial tool in the fight against climate change; one that the UK has decided to loudly champion. The technology, which can provide hot water and space heating for homes, is far more efficient that the natural gas systems it’s intended to replace. In November 2020, the country announced a target of 600,000 heat pump installations, per year, by 2028. But the way that the UK currently funds its renewable energy projects means that, for many, adopting a heat pump is not financially viable.

Huh.

And these devices, which use electricity rather than gas to run, are significantly more energy efficient than traditional electric heating. “Heating your home is between 60 to-70 percent of your energy bill,” says Matt Clemow, CEO of Igloo Energy. But some heat pumps, including the one that Clemow has in his own home, are significantly more energy-efficient than natural gas.

There are, however, challenges to heat pumps, including the fact that they require a very different operation pattern to traditional gas boilers. Because they output a lower temperature, they need to run continuously. “You generally don’t have that on-off period in the same way,” said Clemow, “it’s more background heat.” This is, broadly, how most air conditioning systems work, something that very few Brits use at home.

What’s providing the electricity?

Because of the different climates and energy mixes, it’s not easy to map the European situation onto the American one. The federal government does, however, offer a $300 tax credit for householders who install Energy Star-certified ASHPs, offering more generous discounts for ground source heat pumps like Alphabet’s Dandelion, which draw and circulate heat from underground. Individual states offer their own incentives, dependent on the system you install and the applicant’s income.

$300, you American folks! $300!

But encouraging householders to make the switch from their natural gas-fired boilers is going to be difficult. The initial cost is far higher than the price of just installing a new gas-fired boiler, which will put off many would-be adopters. Then, there is the way the UK structures its energy levies, with a far greater burden on electricity over natural gas. Charges levied onto the sale of electricity in the UK include paying for the cost of the country’s smart meter rollout, bankrolling renewable energy projects and offering cash incentives for people to adopt home energy efficiency technologies.

Far higher

A new heat pump can cost between $3,875 to $7,625 depending on the size of your home, energy efficient ratings, brand name, and the type of heat pump you install. A mini split ductless heat pump with 4 multi zone indoor air handler units could cost up to $10,000 to install. 

You can get an electric or gas one installed for much less. In pure fairness, a heat pump is vastly more efficient that an electric or gas furnace/water heater. But, you are pretty much having to replace the one already there that you already paid for. Back to original article

The sales pitch for many clean(er) technologies often focuses on the total cost of ownership being dramatically lower, even if the initial outlay is higher. If you’ve ever spoken to a Tesla owner, you’ll likely have heard about how little each vehicle costs to run. Similarly, when speaking with solar panel installers, the talk is often about how much money you stand to make (or at least save) compared to your existing solution. That conversation, says Clemow, is the wrong way to sell people on the future of heat pumps.

Well, yeah, because most people cannot afford Teslas, and most people don’t have $10k or more lying around to put in solar panels that will most likely never repay themselves.

And, on the financial side, Lord says that the UK needs to look at ways to tax the carbon use of natural gas, with rebates available for the poorest. But he added that it’s not just the running costs that need examination, but how these retrofit projects are financed in general. He compared the average price of a mortgage, currently under 3 percent, with consumer bank loans, which are often three times more expensive. “If you could fund your heat pump purchase for one and a half percent, rather than nine, that would change the economics quite significantly.”

If Brits don’t comply, they’ll just be taxed out the ying yang. Which is already happening for electricity. I’m not against them: just like with EVs, it should be a choice, not government Forcing people to comply.

Read: Bummer: The UK Is Having A Tough Time Forcing People To Switch To Heat Pumps »

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If All You See…

By William Teach May 27, 2021 – 1:00 pm

…is a wonderful tropical forest sucking carbon from the air, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is The Political Hat, with a post on North Carolina vs. Critical Race Theory.

Read: If All You See… »

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Laugh Riot: Democrats Consider AOC Getting Restraining Order Against Marjorie Taylor Green

By William Teach May 27, 2021 – 10:30 am

It’s hilarious when a rhetorical bomb thrower is upset about someone doing the same against her

Democrats consider the possibility of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seeking a restraining order against Marjorie Taylor Greene

Top Democrats in Congress have discussed whether Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez could seek a restraining order against GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene after the Republican shouted at her colleague in the Capitol earlier this month, Politico reported on Tuesday.

Democratic sources told Politico that Ocasio-Cortez would likely need to seek the restraining order herself.

A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez didn’t immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment on Tuesday.

Greene has repeatedly targeted Ocasio-Cortez over the past few years. In 2019, Greene and several of her associates taunted Ocasio-Cortez’s staffers and vandalized the congresswoman’s guest book outside her Capitol office.

On May 12, the conservative Georgia lawmaker chased Ocasio-Cortez down a hallway as the two left the House chamber and accused her of supporting terrorists and “radical socialism,” according to two Washington Post reporters who witnessed the incident.

“You don’t care about the American people,” Greene shouted at Ocasio-Cortez, according to The Post. “Why do you support terrorists and antifa?”

A spokesperson for Ocasio-Cortez urged congressional leaders to “take real steps to make Congress a safe, civil place” after the May incident.

We’ve all watched the Moonbattery of AOC (and her Squad) since she took office in 2018. Remember her taking over Nancy Pelosi’s office? She starts things with Republicans, then complains when they respond, even claiming she’s being attacked in a sexist or racist manner. She can dish it out, but not take it. And perhaps Greene does take it too far, but, hey, it’s a legitimate question to ask why AOC has been supporting Hamas and being anti-Jew and anti-Israel, as well as supporting Antifa. Greene should ask AOC why she’s still taking fossil fueled trips when she’s the sponsor of the Green New Deal.

Read: Laugh Riot: Democrats Consider AOC Getting Restraining Order Against Marjorie Taylor Green »

Posted in Democrats, Unhinged Tools | 13 Comments | Trackback URL

Gen Z, Millennials Totally Stand For ‘Climate Change’ Activism Or Something

By William Teach May 27, 2021 – 7:54 am

Can you guess what’s missing from this article? What these GenZ and Millennials are doing in their own lives

Gen Z, Millennials Stand Out for Climate Change Activism, Social Media Engagement With Issue

In the first year of Joe Biden’s presidential term, climate, energy and environmental policy have been the subject of renewed federal attention. In recent months, the United States has rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency has moved to sharply restrict greenhouse gas emissions, and Biden has outlined a range of policy goals, including getting the U.S. to “net-zero” by 2050.

Even as Americans identify a number of pressing national problems, majorities see an array of actors, from government to business, as doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change and are broadly supportive of a range of policy approaches that would help address climate change, including moving toward renewable energy sources, developing infrastructure for electric vehicles, and increasing taxes and restrictions on carbon emissions.

Notice how most of that is all about punishing Other People, not changing one’s own lives to accord with the beliefs. They’re going to be very surprised when all those things end up boomeranging back in the form of higher consumer prices and governmental restrictions on their lives and choices.

There’s a big difference between that Hotcoldwetdry should be a top priority and being one for individuals. And changing a lightbulb to a CFL doesn’t count as action.

But meaningful generational differences over the need for climate action, and engagement with the issue, stand alongside these partisan divisions. Younger activists are often at the forefront of the climate debate, with voices such as those of Greta Thunberg and the Sunrise Movement – a youth-led political organization urging increased attention to climate change – among the most visible in global conversations advocating climate action.

Younger Americans – Millennials and adults in Generation Z – stand out in a new Pew Research Center survey particularly for their high levels of engagement with the issue of climate change. Compared with older adults, Gen Zers and Millennials are talking more about the need for action on climate change; among social media users, they are seeing more climate change content online; and they are doing more to get involved with the issue through activities such as volunteering and attending rallies and protests.

While many forms of political engagement – such as voting – tend to be higher among older adults, 32% of Gen Zers and 28% of Millennials have taken at least one of four actions (donating money, contacting an elected official, volunteering or attending a rally) to help address climate change in the last year, compared with smaller shares of Gen X (23%) and Baby Boomer and older adults (21%).

See, they’re more engaged, but, they aren’t actually taking personal actions. Surprise? 76% of Gen Z and 81% of Millennials are willing to give up fossil fuels, but, they aren’t actually doing so.

There’s a ton more interesting information in the article separate from the Gen Z/Millennials. But, the poll still fails to ask a relevant question: what are you doing in your own life?

Read: Gen Z, Millennials Totally Stand For ‘Climate Change’ Activism Or Something »

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Senate Passes Bill Requiring Biden To Declassify All Information On Origins Of COVID

By William Teach May 27, 2021 – 7:39 am

What’s the over/under that China Joe will refuse to comply?

China Votes Biden(Fox News) The Senate approved a measure by unanimous consent Wednesday that would require the Biden administration and the director of national intelligence to declassify intelligence on the origins of COVID-19.

“The American people deserve to know about the origins of COVID-19,” Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley said on the Senate floor before the Senate passed the amendment that was part of a broader bill. “They deserve to know how this terrible pandemic that has ravaged the globe and our country, how it got started, and what China’s role was in starting it.”

He said voters deserved to see the evidence and judge for themselves, rather than different speculation from various administration officials on where the virus may have come from.

“Whether it’s weighing in on issues of health care, national security, COVID-19, who disagrees with transparency?” asked Indiana Republican Sen. Mike Braun. “The sunshine reveals everything.”

Joe is big on protecting China, just like Disney and the NBA. And the White House very much wants the COVID-19 origins done with a ‘transparent’ international investigation. Why? Why can’t the U.S. intelligence agencies investigate? An international investigation will run the clock out and may not release the actual information….oh, that’s why, because the US lawmakers and US Citizens wouldn’t be able to demand that the results be shown in full. Let’s not forget

Biden State Department quietly ended team’s work probing COVID origin

The Biden State Department ended an inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic that was investigating whether the virus stemmed from a leak out of the Wuhan Institute of Virology, Fox News has confirmed.

The Biden administration terminated the inquiry – which was being led out of the State Department’s arms control and verification bureau and initially launched at the request of former Trump Secretary of State Mike Pompeo – after being briefed on the team’s initial findings in February and March.

State Department spokesman Ned Price on Tuesday denied shutting down the inquiry: “There has been incorrect reporting that the Biden-Harris administration shut down an investigation by the State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control and Verification (AVC) into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.” He said the team’s work ended after delivering a report in February and March, adding that “all relevant parts of the Department continue to work with the interagency on this matter.”

“The world continues to have serious questions about the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, including its origins within the Peoples Republic of China,” Price continued. “China’s position that their part in this investigation is complete is disappointing and at odds with the rest of the international community that is working collaboratively across the board to bring an end to this pandemic and improve global health security.”

So, if there was more that needed to be known, then why stop investigating after the report was done? The department that was investigating is one that looks at whether countries are stockpiling bioweapons.

Will Joe declassify the information?

Read: Senate Passes Bill Requiring Biden To Declassify All Information On Origins Of COVID »

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China Joe Looks Outside U.S. For Electric Vehicle Materials

By William Teach May 26, 2021 – 3:00 pm

Why is the U.S. government involved in the manufacture of vehicles to start with? Will we now have the government selling them?

Exclusive-Biden looks abroad for electric vehicle metals, in blow to U.S. miners

Electric vehicleU.S. President Joe Biden will rely on ally countries to supply the bulk of the metals needed to build electric vehicles and focus on processing them domestically into battery parts, part of a strategy designed to placate environmentalists, two administration officials with direct knowledge told Reuters.

The plans will be a blow to U.S. miners who had hoped Biden would rely primarily on domestically sourced metals, as his campaign had signalled last autumn, to help fulfill his ambitions for a less carbon-intensive economy.

Rather than focus on permitting more U.S. mines, Biden’s team is more focused on creating jobs that process minerals domestically into electric vehicle (EV) battery parts, according to the people.

Such a plan would help cut U.S. reliance on industry leader China for EV materials while also enticing unions with manufacturing work and, in theory, reduce pandemic-fueled unemployment.

Right, so where are the materials coming from? And China Joe would be just moving the mining from the U.S., which has much better environmental standards, to nations, especially 3rd world ones, which don’t. That make you happy, environmentalists?

Under the approach, the United States would rely on Canada, Australia and Brazil – among others – to produce most of the critical raw materials needed, while it competes for higher-value jobs turning those minerals into computer chips and batteries, according to the two sources.

And how are they sent to the U.S.? Fossil fueled ships, right? So, more ships.

“President Biden is focused on seizing the electric vehicle (EV) market, sourcing and manufacturing the supply chain here in America, and creating good-paying, union jobs,” said Ali Zaidi, the deputy White House national climate adviser.

“Building American-made EVs and shipping them around the world will include leveraging American-made parts and resources. This includes responsibly pursuing, developing, and mining critical minerals and materials used for EV batteries.”

But, do consumers actually want them? Can they afford them? Remember this?

Read: China Joe Looks Outside U.S. For Electric Vehicle Materials »

Posted in Global Warming, Joe Biden | 5 Comments | Trackback URL

If All You See…

By William Teach May 26, 2021 – 1:00 pm

…is an area flooded from climate change, you might just be a Warmist

The blog of the day is A View From The Beach, with a post on AOC in therapy from the overzealous 1/6 protest.

Read: If All You See… »

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Doctors: Returning To Pre-COVID Habits Has Risks

By William Teach May 26, 2021 – 10:30 am

They’re actually correct in this, which is why I’ve repeatedly said here, on Twitter, in comment sections, and in real life that I’m fine with continued social distancing, not shaking hands or fist bumping, not touching except for close friends and family, washing my hands more than I did prior, and just doing things differently. Yes, I’m fully vaccinated, but, it’s not really COVID that concerns me

There’s a downside to returning to pre-COVID-19 hygiene habits — colds and sore throats are back, doctors say

Many things Americans gave up over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic are coming back, from parties and meals out to hugs and movies. Normalcy also has a downside — the return of colds, sore throats and the sniffles

“People are taking off their masks, they’re no longer socially distancing, they’re not washing their hands as much and they’re getting sick again,” said Dr. Aaron Glatt, CEO of Mount Sinai hospital in South Nassau, New York.

Getting back to normal “comes at a price,” said Glatt, who is also a fellow with the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

After a year of almost no colds, no runny noses and no watery eyes, the minor viruses kept in control by COVID-19 restrictions are making a comeback.

I haven’t had a cold or the flu, even minor, since prior to COVID. Allergies have messed with me just as much, even while wearing a mask, so, rather puts the whole masking thing to lie. If I’m wearing a mask properly and getting a lot of pollen on my face and in my nose, well, pollen is bigger than a virus, right?

Of most importance was influenza, which was at an all-time low this year. The flu season ends in April or May, so it’s not likely to rear up during the summer. But other annoying, though less dangerous viruses, are still out there.

Not having to deal with commonplace colds and viruses has made this “a remarkable year,” said Dr. Clifford Medina, chief of general medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami.

In Atlanta, Dr. Jennifer Shu, a pediatrician and the medical editor of Healthy Children magazine, is seeing an uptick in colds, RSV, rotavirus (which causes vomiting and diarrhea) and strep throat.

“We haven’t had a case of COVID (among our patients) since March 12, but we’re seeing all kinds of run-of-the-mill viruses,” she said. “It’s not more than normal. It’s just a stark contrast from seeing nothing for a year except COVID.”

And the big problem, besides being sick, which sucks, right, is that your boss might go “well, we have to be sure, we’ll see you in 15 days.” And now you’re out for just over two weeks. Even with a negative COVID test, and might there start being fewer testing sites soon(?), they might tell you to stay away for 15 days. And, it stinks to have a cold or the flu. Or something else. And people will be really reticent on dealing with you if you have the aftereffects when you get back.

“Some cold viruses are a little hardier than COVID-19, they last longer on surfaces,” she said. Not being careful about hand-washing or touching the face with hands means they have more chance of jumping to new hosts, he said.

So, yeah, I’ll continue doing my thing. The original directives: wash your hands, don’t touch your face (that’s where the mask helped the most), social distance, don’t touch. I’ve seen how people do not wash their hands. In the past I’ve seen the nastiness on their phones. If some people are upset I won’t shake hands, that’s on them. Times have changed. Perhaps I’ll have to start carrying hand sanitizer around again.

Going forward, Americans would do well to continue practicing the things learned during COVID-19. That doesn’t mean washing down groceries, or never seeing friends or loved ones. But a little care makes a big difference, experts say.

Yes.

Read: Doctors: Returning To Pre-COVID Habits Has Risks »

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Totally Unbiased News And Observer Receives Grant To Publish More Climate Cult Material

By William Teach May 26, 2021 – 7:55 am

Why are newspapers accepting grants to publish certain “news”?

News & Observer receives grant to bolster coverage of climate change, the environment

The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun will add a full-time climate change and environment reporter starting June 1, thanks to a grant from the 1Earth Fund.

The 1Earth Fund is a private nonprofit foundation that finances efforts to provide education and information about climate change, its effects and solutions to the problem.

Adam Wagner has been selected by the N&O as its new climate change and environment reporter. Wagner has worked with the paper for two years as a Report For America corps member. RFA places reporters in newsrooms across the country to help bolster local news coverage. Wagner has covered hurricane recovery and, since the start of the pandemic, efforts to create and distribute a coronavirus vaccine.

“We’re grateful to the 1Earth Fund for recognizing that credible and independent news and information on critical issues can help solve intractable problems,” said Robyn Tomlin, president and editor of The News & Observer and The Herald-Sun. “We’re excited to have a talented reporter like Adam Wagner transitioning into this role.”

They’re grateful that they’re news reporting is being bought by a far left outlet? How is it possible to even pretend to be a neutral news service? Let’s find out about Report For America

Report for America is an organization that seeks to place journalists in local newsrooms all around the country. The organization is modeled after the U.S. government agency Americorps which sends members to assist on various projects all over the country.

Report for America helps newsrooms across the country hire journalists. It also seeks to hire journalists to cover areas that are traditionally ignored by the national media.

Report for America is a joint project of Google News Lab and The GroundTruth Project, both organizations associated with the political left-of-center.

So, the N&O is going to publish propaganda, and they are actually going to have several “reporters” from RFA working on not just the climate change scam, but “one covering housing and the pandemic, and one covering diverse communities in and around the Triangle.”

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the climate scam

Top Scientist Cuts Ties With National Lab After It Invited A Climate Denier To Speak

Ben Santer, one of the world’s best-known climate scientists, announced this week he is severing ties with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory after the federal research facility invited a climate denier to give a book talk this Thursday.

Santer had planned to retire from the lab, where he has worked for 29 years, in September, but would continue his award-winning atmospheric research on a part-time basis and maintain his affiliation.

But in a blog post published Monday, the MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient said his employer failed to “adequately address” concerns he raised with hosting physicist Steve Koonin to speak about his new book, “Unsettled,” which sows doubt over the reality of human-causing global warming. Santer cast the decision to allow Koonin, a New York University professor, to promote his polemic at an official lab event as a betrayal of the research conducted there for decades.

If a scientist is unwilling to listen to other views, other scientific data, they should stop calling themselves scientists. Science requires lots of viewpoints, as science can change with new data. And, heck, Santer didn’t have to go to the book talk. But, no, he freaked and quit early. It’s a cult. And now those of us here in the Raleigh area will have a cultist writing lots of material which you know will be front page.

Read: Totally Unbiased News And Observer Receives Grant To Publish More Climate Cult Material »

Posted in Global Warming, Journalistic Malpractice | 11 Comments | Trackback URL

China Joe Admin Broadcasts On Snapchat To Push Vaccinations

By William Teach May 26, 2021 – 7:40 am

I’m sure this is just what the youngsters flicking through profiles looking to hook up (yeah, and I guess there are funny dogs and other things. And adult ones) want to see, right? A bunch of oldies yapping at theme to get vaccinated

White House teams up with Snapchat to encourage Covid vaccinations for young Americans

The White House this week is teaming up with Snapchat to encourage young Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Starting Wednesday, Snapchat users will be able to use an augmented reality lens that features President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Dr. Anthony Fauci and viral immunologist Kizzmekia Corbett answering questions about the vaccine.

“Hey folks, we have to get vaccinated. The new variants are affecting young people. Getting the vaccine’s going to prevent you from spreading it to your friends and to your family. Let’s end the Covid crisis once and for all, now,” Biden says during the augmented reality experience, first shared with CNN, which mimics a video call with the President.

The Snapchat experience also includes an augmented reality call from Harris, who shares a link to vaccines.gov — where Snapchat users can find their nearest vaccination sites – and lets users know that Uber and Lyft will provide free rides to vaccination sites, as well as information from Fauci, who tells Snapchat users that vaccinations will protect them from the current Covid-19 variants.

“A fully vaccinated person right now will be protected against the variants that are currently circulating in the country,” Fauci says.

These are the same people who keep wearing masks around others who are fully vaccinated, who wear them outside when not near anyone. Who had been basically telling people that they shouldn’t change from all the same COVID restrictions even though vaccinated. I’m sure that helps.

But people 24 and younger are getting vaccine doses at much lower rates than their older counterparts, according to data from the CDC. Experts are turning their focus in the fight against Covid-19 to vaccinating young Americans, warning that even though they don’t face a high chance of serious illness, they still risk long-term symptoms if they get coronavirus.

Apparently they don’t feel like putting anything that hasn’t been tested for years in their bodies. Drugs and weird alcohol is perfectly fine.

Earlier this week, the White House joined a group of YouTube creators for a virtual conversation to fight youth vaccine hesitancy, Yahoo News reported. And last week, the White House teamed up with a number of dating apps to offer incentives to customers who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus. (snip)

According to Snap Inc., Snapchat’s parent company, the app reaches 90% of young people ages 13-24 in the United States as well as 75% of the 13- to 34-year-old US population.

Is this what you want to see?

It kinda makes you wonder: we keep hearing that Dems are super thrilled about the virus and are getting it, while Republicans are the problem. Yet, most of these kids vote Democrat.

Read: China Joe Admin Broadcasts On Snapchat To Push Vaccinations »

Posted in Bat Soup Virus, Joe Biden | 1 Comment | Trackback URL
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