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> I expect my electric usage to drop after adding a solar thermal collector to replace a portion of the electricity used for heating. Well, that's just harvest
by closewith 2y ago
> I expect my electric usage to drop after adding a solar thermal collector to replace a portion of the electricity used for heating.
Well, that's just harvesting more solar energy, not reducing your energy needs.
- detourdog 2y agoTrue. Although it is self-sustaining and doesn't require outside production. I also distinguished between electric usage and thermal collection to satisfy overall energy needs. I guess I'm trying to point out that on an individual level power usage may have a maximum. This might not hold true for commercial ambitions.
- closewith 2y agoI just don't agree. The energy we use today would be seen as absurd even 100 years ago, as will our energy use in the future.
- detourdog 2y agoI see the difference between the USA's electric usage today and 100 years ago is that barely anyone had electricity 100 years ago and our standard of living has increased dramatically today. I expect a bump in our usage in the short term due to EV usage but from a household perspective I believe our electric usage will flat line. Heating and cooling are currently the highest usage of power in the domestic setting and large efficiency gains and alternative sources are available. I look at the power usage as a distributed problem and increasing local generation of power will create efficiencies. I also believe that there is finite amount of power that a USA based family of 4 needs. I think the alternate opinions assumes that the power needs are infinite.