Can you redo this same analysis with a sense of the multiplier effect of energy efficiency of the equipment we use, from light bulbs to ac equipment to appliances to heat pump water heaters? When you add this multiplier to the time price, the time price savings of useful energy explodes.
Thanks for liking. I am not sure if the equipment costs to get these energy efficiencies has gone up relative to the time price of the equipment in 1980. For example, has the time price of a HWHP gone up compared with the time price of a straight electric water heater in 1980? Does an LED light bulb today cost more in time price than an incandescent bulb in 1980? It might be reassuring if the time prices of these energy efficient modern devices had not gone up. The current prices of some of these efficient items (hot water heaters are a good example) is many multiples of the current inefficient equivalent. That of course gives complainers something to talk about all day; perhaps partially rightly?
I like it, but do the harder arithmetic on a water heater that today costs more than five times an electric resistance unit. Is the 4x more efficient production of hot water (the juice) worth the squeeze (unit costs five times as much and is more complicated to install and maintain.). I agree, most examples are like the microwave, cheaper to make, cheaper to install and far, far more energy efficient. But worth contrasting with two examples in time prices 1980 (old version) to today (new energy efficient version) and actual prices today (energy efficient vs version inefficient version) 1. Light bulb. 2. Hot water heater (HPWH vs electric).
Can you redo this same analysis with a sense of the multiplier effect of energy efficiency of the equipment we use, from light bulbs to ac equipment to appliances to heat pump water heaters? When you add this multiplier to the time price, the time price savings of useful energy explodes.
Thanks for liking. I am not sure if the equipment costs to get these energy efficiencies has gone up relative to the time price of the equipment in 1980. For example, has the time price of a HWHP gone up compared with the time price of a straight electric water heater in 1980? Does an LED light bulb today cost more in time price than an incandescent bulb in 1980? It might be reassuring if the time prices of these energy efficient modern devices had not gone up. The current prices of some of these efficient items (hot water heaters are a good example) is many multiples of the current inefficient equivalent. That of course gives complainers something to talk about all day; perhaps partially rightly?
I did a little article on light a while back you will enjoy:
https://galepooley.substack.com/p/light-has-burst-forth-in-astonishing?r=3lwt2
Here’s another one on Burrito-nomics. Note the energy productivity: https://open.substack.com/pub/galepooley/p/burrito-nomics?r=3lwt2&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
I like it, but do the harder arithmetic on a water heater that today costs more than five times an electric resistance unit. Is the 4x more efficient production of hot water (the juice) worth the squeeze (unit costs five times as much and is more complicated to install and maintain.). I agree, most examples are like the microwave, cheaper to make, cheaper to install and far, far more energy efficient. But worth contrasting with two examples in time prices 1980 (old version) to today (new energy efficient version) and actual prices today (energy efficient vs version inefficient version) 1. Light bulb. 2. Hot water heater (HPWH vs electric).