Richard - 1. Correct, some heat pumps have not worked well when it gets really cold (my house has one of those). However, those were older technology; newer versions are available that work find colder than we ever see in Lincoln. My brother-in-law in Maine relies entirely on heat pumps and says he has no problems. 2. I have already addressed this one. 3. I assume you are not arguing that Lincoln should also prohibit burning wood and propane, correct? If instead you are asking me to explain what might seem like an inconsistency, the reasons include these: (A) Propane would not be exempt as a fuel. Rather, emergency generators presumably would be exempt, and a portable propane tank would fly under the radar so to speak because the enforcement mechanism is at the point of building permit issuance and you don't need a building permit to bring your 5-gallon tank onsite to power your outdoor grill. (B) Burning wood is also pretty bad for the climate because even though trees capture carbon as they grow back, they do it slowly, whereas we need to reduce net emissions quickly. Nevertheless, one can draw a distinction based on quantity of use, since a new house is extremely unlikely to be heated entirely or even mostly by wood. A wood-burning fireplace typically is used only occasionally and in that respect is vastly different from a gas furnace relied upon for home heating. So we are not seeking authority to withhold a building permit for a new house that would have a word-burning stove or fireplace. (C) The scope we propose is in this respect the same as that chosen by Acton, Arlington, Brooklyn, Concord, and Lexington. 4. I'm sorry if I came across as nonchalant; I take the cost issues very seriously. - Paul
On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 3:32 PM Richard Panetta <[email protected]> wrote: > 1. Curious as many people on here have mentioned heat pumps don’t work > that well in winter. And have had to supplement them when it’s really cold > > 2. The cost of a generator is an additional up front cost. If an all > electric home does not have one how would one deal with a prolonged > electrical outage? Seems you are forcing them into the expense if they want > to keep power in an outage. > > 3. Why allow propane or wood fires as well? You give people that choice > but not what type of method they power their home. > > > 4. The comment was in regards to the non chalant way the generator comment > was mentioned. Similar to the gentleman who stated the tax increase for the > school project was just another weekly trip to Donelans. Some can not > afford these additional costs. Even if it MIGHT be more cost effective over > time. > > On Sun, Mar 27, 2022 at 2:50 PM Paul Shorb <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I would like to respond to some recent posts here that seem to critique a >> move towards fossil-fuel-free homes as an expensive luxury for high-minded >> hypocrites who blissfully ignore adverse cost impacts on those economically >> less well-off. Here are some relevant facts that may be of interest to LT >> readers. >> >> Requiring new homes to be all-electric will not make them more expensive >> to build or operate. In fact, due to the almost miraculous energy >> efficiency of modern heat pumps, they tend to be LESS expensive to operate, >> thereby benefiting not only high-end homeowners but also less-affluent >> renters. (Not to mention the health benefits of cleaner indoor air.) A >> recent state study show the cost benefits are even better for multi-family >> housing than for single family homes. >> >> All-electric homes are not required to have an emergency generator. >> Whether someone wants to have an emergency generator is a personal choice; >> many homes powered by fossil fuels choose to have one. >> We mention emergency generators to underscore that we expect they would >> still be allowed as an option, when and if Lincoln adopts a bylaw. Even if >> you assume a generator to be an additional cost associated with an >> all-electric house, that likely will be offset by reduced operating costs. >> >> With regard to DIE, it's hard to come up with something with more >> disparate impact on people of color than our current fossil-fuel economy >> and the climate change it is causing. >> In America it typically is lower-income people - often people of color - >> who live closest to fossil fuel extraction areas, fuel refineries, power >> plants, and areas thickest with vehicle exhaust fumes, and who thereby >> suffer the most from the local pollution effects. >> Around the world, it is regions populated mainly by black and brown >> people that are getting hit the hardest by the many impacts of climate >> change. Those are the people who are most at risk of being pushed back into >> poverty and worse by extreme weather events, droughts, food shortages, and >> desperate migration attempts and ensuing political strife - even though >> they have done much less than the more developed, majority-white nations >> have done to cause the current climate crisis. >> That's why it is rightly said that "climate justice is racial justice". >> >> - Paul Shorb >> >> On Sat, Mar 26, 2022 at 1:16 PM Stephanie Smoot < >> [email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I found irony that they were adding all these programs but a waiting >>> list for senior tax work off spaces! >>> >>> On Sat, Mar 26, 2022 at 1:09 PM Richard Panetta < >>> [email protected]> wrote: >>> >>>> So did anyone else find any irony in a report given about inclusion >>>> diversity equity and anti racism then the very next article the presenting >>>> sponsor when questioned about losing electricity stated well you can JUST >>>> get a propane generator for those needs. Never mind a good generator can >>>> cost $5000 plus along with the yearly costs of the tank and propane. Just >>>> in case your non fossil fuel home loses power. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> -- >>>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>>> Browse the archives at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>>> Change your subscription settings at >>>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>> >>>> >>>> -- >>> Regards, >>> *Stephanie Smoot* >>> >>> 857 368-9175 work >>> 781 941-6842 personal cell >>> *617 595-5217 *work cell >>> 126 Chestnut Circle >>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/126+Chestnut+Circle+Lincoln,+MA+01773?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> Lincoln, MA 01773 >>> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/126+Chestnut+Circle+Lincoln,+MA+01773?entry=gmail&source=g> >>> >>> >>> -- >>> The LincolnTalk mailing list. >>> To post, send mail to [email protected]. >>> Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. >>> Browse the archives at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. >>> Change your subscription settings at >>> https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. >>> >>>
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