Energy Common Sense

[beej]

https://www.realclearenergy.org/articles/2022/06/26/chasing_utopian_energy_how_i_wasted_20_years_of_my_life_839185.html

For years, I chased utopian energy. I promoted solar, wind, and energy efficiency because I felt like I was protecting the environment. But I was wrong! Feeling like you're doing the right thing doesn't mean you are. I just couldn't admit it. My sense of identity was tied to my false beliefs about energy—myths that blinded me to what really does—and doesn't—help the planet.

I started to realize that I had accepted as true certain claims about energy and our environment. Now I began to see those claims were false. For example:

    I used to think solar and wind power were the best ways to reduce CO2 emissions. But the biggest reduction in CO2 emissions during the past 15 years (over 60%) has come from switching from coal to natural gas.

    I used to think that the world was transitioning to solar, wind, and batteries. This, too, was false. Trillions of dollars were spent on wind and solar projects over the last 20 years, yet the world's dependence on fossil fuels declined only 3 percentage points, from 87% to 84%.

    I used to believe nuclear energy was dangerous and nuclear waste was a big problem. In fact, nuclear is the safest and most reliable way to generate low-emission electricity, and it provides the best chance of reducing CO2 emissions.

It's now clear I was chasing utopian energy. I was using green energy myths as moral camouflage, and I was able to believe those myths as long as I remained ignorant about the real costs and benefits of different energy sources.

[RobertELee]

[CNCAppsJames]

82....

More like 72.

[RobertELee]

82....

More like 72.

68 is a requirement for me when sleeping

[Tim Johnson]

68 is a requirement for me when sleeping

I prefer 20° with heavy blankets but the wife won't allow that. Every once in a while though I can sneak it in. The extra oxygen that comes with the cold air is good for deep sleep.

[YoDoug]

Our bedroom has a vaulted ceiling with a fan above the bed. I can keep the house at 74 and still sleep comfortably if we have the fan on. Our basement stairs are a wide open design (6 foot wide at the bottom). We keep a fan moving air from downstairs to help minimize the difference between levels. Occasionally on the hottest days we will turn it down to 72 in the afternoon. We also get really good flow through the house with open windows so if it is possible we keep the windows open.

[Jeff]

Who the hell sleeps with it set to 82 deg?
I need my place cold, all year long. I even have a window cracked in the winter sometimes.

[neurosis]

Who the hell sleeps with it set to 82 deg?

Someone who lives in a State that the outside temperature is 100deg at night?