Comments on: The Consumer Subconscious http://fireflyeco.com/2010/03/the-consumer-subconscious/ Light for the path to sustainability. Tue, 08 May 2012 20:44:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rob http://fireflyeco.com/2010/03/the-consumer-subconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Rob Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:16:47 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=338#comment-115 This is true, but for many in older homes, much of the air is leaking out through inadequate windows and exterior doors. Many of which, including mine, can't be resealed. The cost for picking the low hanging fruit is peanuts in comparison. All that is needed is education on how to pick it properly for maximum benefit. Maybe a policy for subsidizing high cost upgrades should also come with a home energy audit requirement. I would first in line to participate. This is true, but for many in older homes, much of the air is leaking out through inadequate windows and exterior doors. Many of which, including mine, can’t be resealed. The cost for picking the low hanging fruit is peanuts in comparison. All that is needed is education on how to pick it properly for maximum benefit. Maybe a policy for subsidizing high cost upgrades should also come with a home energy audit requirement. I would first in line to participate.

]]> By: Daniel http://fireflyeco.com/2010/03/the-consumer-subconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-111 Daniel Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:15:53 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=338#comment-111 Good points, though from a policy perspective, wouldn't you want to invest in the low-hanging fruit that hasn't been harvested on 90% of the trees, rather than spending more to get the high-hanging fruit on 10% of the trees? In other words, why not fund air-sealing and insulation only, rather than windows, HVAC, and appliances. I don't know very many people who have done even the basics, and putting a nice HVAC system an uninsulated house is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The water is still coming in, and the heat is still going out! Good points, though from a policy perspective, wouldn’t you want to invest in the low-hanging fruit that hasn’t been harvested on 90% of the trees, rather than spending more to get the high-hanging fruit on 10% of the trees?

In other words, why not fund air-sealing and insulation only, rather than windows, HVAC, and appliances. I don’t know very many people who have done even the basics, and putting a nice HVAC system an uninsulated house is like re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. The water is still coming in, and the heat is still going out!

]]> By: Rob http://fireflyeco.com/2010/03/the-consumer-subconscious/comment-page-1/#comment-109 Rob Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:33:24 +0000 http://fireflyeco.com/?p=338#comment-109 I can tell you why people need further incentive to do what should be obvious. For many of the efficiency educated, the low hanging fruit has already been picked. It's that fruit that hangs high in the tree that carries a higher price tag along with it. If I had an incentive to replace high dollar items such as windows and HVAC, I'd likely consider it more often than if an incentive wasn't offered. It's like buying something on sale. I enjoyed the $1500 credit I took this year for the new HVAC I had installed last year. It's too bad I can't take another $1500 for improvements made this year. I could certainly benefit from new windows and I'm sure the local Pella store would like to keep their installers employed. I can tell you why people need further incentive to do what should be obvious. For many of the efficiency educated, the low hanging fruit has already been picked. It’s that fruit that hangs high in the tree that carries a higher price tag along with it. If I had an incentive to replace high dollar items such as windows and HVAC, I’d likely consider it more often than if an incentive wasn’t offered. It’s like buying something on sale. I enjoyed the $1500 credit I took this year for the new HVAC I had installed last year. It’s too bad I can’t take another $1500 for improvements made this year. I could certainly benefit from new windows and I’m sure the local Pella store would like to keep their installers employed.

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