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Why Heat Pumps Are the Future, and How Your Home Could Use One
(www.nytimes.com)
Discussion of climate, how it is changing, activism around that, the politics, and the energy systems change we need in order to stabilize things.
As a starting point, the burning of fossil fuels, and to a lesser extent deforestation and release of methane are responsible for the warming in recent decades:
How much each change to the atmosphere has warmed the world:
Recommended actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions in the near future:
Anti-science, inactivism, and unsupported conspiracy theories are not ok here.
They haven't been standard in colder parts of the US — people use natural gas, propane, or fuel oil depending on where in the country.
I can believe that because many people choose the absolute cheapest solution rather than looking at the 5-10 year cost of ownership.
Technology connections YouTuber is in Chicago and chose a heat pump because it's cheaper. I have a relative in Minnesota and they are on a ground sourced heatpump because it's so much cheaper long term.
There's not much population in the US further north than the middle of Minnesota.
Last time I looked in to it I'd still need a supplemental heater for when it's too cold for the heat pump to be effective (there were a handful of weeks just this/last year where we would be in trouble) in Chicago.
Ground source makes a lot more sense for new construction where you're already digging.
Backup heat is standard with all whole house heat pumps. You pick electric or gas based on cost.