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by cbdumas 79 days ago
The article is about utility scale solar and storage I believe not home installations. It also mentions towards the end that in cold norther climates adding wind to the mix makes sense
1 comments

Like I said he grossly understates the energy demand we use in the United States for heating during the winter.
I believe a lot of that demand is due to there being no incentive to increase energy efficiency.
There are TONS of incentives to increase energy efficiency.

Most local electric and gas companies will do free energy audits. Many will offer rebates if you install tankless water heaters, heat pumps, and insulation. Installers get kickbacks from manufacturers and tax credits if you buy higher efficiency equipment. Lenders will give you 0% loans to fund it all. The Feds and many States offer tax credits for all of the above.

I've done every single thing on this list in the last 5 years, some in Texas, some in Indiana.

I believe it to be a question of physics and not incentives.
A wall is not a wall is not a wall.

A well built home with more insulation will, according to physics, lose less heat in any given scenario. So policies that push for things that improve buildings can reduce energy use.

Do you think we have reached peak building efficiency or something?

Kind of silly to think when we've invented materials like areogel.