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My previous startup was an API that would give homes an energy efficiency letter grade along with a bill estimate to embedded in real estate websites. While it
by swampthinker 9y ago
My previous startup was an API that would give homes an energy efficiency letter grade along with a bill estimate to embedded in real estate websites. While it failed for a host of issues, one that stood out in my head was how little people valued efficiency over renewables.
Generally speaking, money invested in improving building efficiency will have a better carbon and financial payback than any form of solar, wind, or hydro. And yet, homeowners will get solar panels before they insulate their walls.
- hueving 9y agoNobody cares if you brag about nice insulation. It doesn't have the same social value as solar panels.
- epmaybe 9y agoThen hire a marketing team to make it sexier.
- seanmcdirmid 9y agoWas this an American centric startup? I know in especially Germany and probably much of Europe building efficiency is a big deal, to the extent that things like smaller windows are prioritized.
- ipsi 9y agoYeah - similar information sometimes (I had to check several listings before I found one with this info) exists when looking for flats in Germany. See, e.g., https://www.immobilienscout24.de/expose/96661853?referrer=RESULT_LIST_LISTING&navigationServiceUrl=%2FSuche%2Fcontroller%2FexposeNavigation%2Fnavigate.go%3FsearchUrl%3D%2FSuche%2FS-T%2FWohnung-Miete%2FUmkreissuche%2FM_fcnchen_2dMaxvorstadt%2F80335%2F114221%2F2028686%2FSeidlstra_dfe%2F-%2F20%2F3%2C00-%26exposeId%3D96661853&navigationHasPrev=true&navigationHasNext=true&navigationBarType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=4c1f5bf4-5e75-33dd-9c57-cb1c147d1606#/ https://www.immobilienscout24.de/expose/96661853?referrer=RE... Under "Bausubstanz & Energieausweis" it lists the energy required to heat the apartment in kWh/m^2. (I don't live in Germany, but have been considering moving).
- swampthinker 9y agoYeah it was. Europe has a lot of required home energy ratings actually, so we drew inspiration from that.
- Retric 9y agoIt's often more pleasant to have more passive heating than more insulation. I prefer a reasonably well insulated house, that leaks a little air vs an insanely insulted house that's practically air tight. Passive solar / solar hot water heaters let you have the best of both worlds with ~zero monthly heating costs and plenty of fresh air.
- UncleEntity 9y ago> Passive solar / solar hot water heaters let you have the best of both worlds with ~zero monthly heating costs and plenty of fresh air. Depends on where you live I suppose. I was talking with my landlord a couple weeks ago about solar water heating (surprisingly rare in Arizona being the desert and all) and he said he looked into it before but it would cost more than gas due to all the bureaucratic hurdles put in the way -- which explains the rarity I guess.
- Retric 9y agoIt's much cheaper and easier to install when building a house then add on after the fact. Which I suspect is a large part of the issue as people don't generally consider utility bills when buying a home, and the home builder does not realize the savings.
- pjc50 9y agoInterestingly, in the UK I had to meet an energy effciciency standard before being eligable for solar panel subsidies. http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/reports/EPC%20and%20FIT.pdf http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/sites/default/files/repo...
- swampthinker 9y agoYeah, I spent more time than I care to think about lobbying for this kind of change in the States. Got practically nowhere though.