Like cooking with gas? Sorry, New Yorkers

[Klaus]

@george-k said in Like cooking with gas? Sorry, New Yorkers:

@klaus said in Like cooking with gas? Sorry, New Yorkers:

"Officially", these heat pumps still work when it's -10°C.

Wow, that's not really very cold.

I mean, it's cold, but not "I don't dare go out in this weather" cold.

Last winter, I would go for walks when it was -6 C.

True, but in most areas of Germany, it doesn't get colder than that. Or maybe only on a handful of days per decade.

[Axtremus]

@Klaus, how about heating with oil?
In the USA, oil is also a popular fuel to heat houses. These houses would have fuel tanks that get refilled every now and then. Wonder if heating oil is also widely used in Germany to heat houses.

[George K]

When we bought the Cheddarshack, it was heated with propane - we had a huge tank on the property.

[Klaus]

Oil has been rapidly decreasing in popularity.

They used to be common in areas that are not connected to the gas network.

I believe by now it's no longer legal to install new oil heatings.

The current breakdown is this:

So, about 1/4 oil heating. Majority is variants of gas. Percentage of heat pumps is still small, but I believe more than 50% of the new heatings are heat pumps.

[Jolly]

@mik said in Like cooking with gas? Sorry, New Yorkers:

Live with a heat pump in a cold climate for a couple years then tell me its a good idea.

Shucks, live with a heat pump down here...Years ago, I worked at a thirty-bedder that installed them. It was a disaster. Too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, not to mention they broke constantly.

[George K]

Done: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/28/nyregion/gas-stove-ban-ny.html

New York may soon become the first state in the nation to ban natural gas in new construction under a budget deal announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul.

The proposal, revealed on Thursday night, has been a priority for environmental groups, who see it as a critical step in reducing New York’s dependence on fossil fuels and helping it meet its emission reduction goals. But it was opposed by the oil and gas industry and treated skeptically by some consumers.

Environmental groups warned that the details of the plan were still unclear and said they worried it may contain a provision that would allow local governments to effectively veto the measure. But Katy Zielinski, a spokeswoman for the governor’s office, said on Friday that no such measure was included in the deal.

“The new law will not have any loopholes that will undermine the intent of this measure,” said Ms. Zielinski. “There will not be any option for municipalities to opt out.”
It is part of the sprawling $229 billion state budget deal announced by the governor, which capped weeks of heated negotiations that have delayed the budget’s passage by almost a month. State lawmakers are expected to vote on the deal next week.

Good thing there's tons of free electricity that everyone can tap into.

[jon-nyc]

I wonder if, in 50-100 years, the idea of open gas flames in the house will seem as strange as burning coal in the basement does to us now.

[George K]

Next step: Ban natural gas for heating?

[jon-nyc]

I think the concern for cooking is gasses from the open flame. I don’t think the same concern exists for heating air or water.

[Copper]

I’m sure the governor has planned for every possible outcome.

The natural gas industry will soon realize how lucky they are to have such caring legislators.

Yes, millions will lose their jobs and the cost of coal burning electric power plants will inch up a bit.

But it is for a greater good.