Harris Berton
@harrisberton.bsky.social
Climate dad, Canadian energy policy nerd. I post about energy technologies and how we can use them to stop climate change. Views my own. #energysky
How much did it cost to insulate?
August 26, 2025 at 10:20 PM
How much did it cost to insulate?
Reposted by Harris Berton
No. The climate community needs to stop blaming other people for its own failures.
July 29, 2025 at 10:19 AM
No. The climate community needs to stop blaming other people for its own failures.
Man I was so stoked when I learned chicken pox wasn't a thing anymore.
Outbreaks of measles here - enough that they moved up my 2 year old's second jab by 2+ years 😬 (usually 4-6 years).
Outbreaks of measles here - enough that they moved up my 2 year old's second jab by 2+ years 😬 (usually 4-6 years).
July 28, 2025 at 12:12 PM
Man I was so stoked when I learned chicken pox wasn't a thing anymore.
Outbreaks of measles here - enough that they moved up my 2 year old's second jab by 2+ years 😬 (usually 4-6 years).
Outbreaks of measles here - enough that they moved up my 2 year old's second jab by 2+ years 😬 (usually 4-6 years).
I'm not sure this is ag runoff, article indicates it goes into the waste water system.
Pretty concerning pattern of violations at this facility regardless (of which this video seems to be one), seems like it's time to tighten up AD regs.
Pretty concerning pattern of violations at this facility regardless (of which this video seems to be one), seems like it's time to tighten up AD regs.
July 26, 2025 at 11:14 AM
I'm not sure this is ag runoff, article indicates it goes into the waste water system.
Pretty concerning pattern of violations at this facility regardless (of which this video seems to be one), seems like it's time to tighten up AD regs.
Pretty concerning pattern of violations at this facility regardless (of which this video seems to be one), seems like it's time to tighten up AD regs.
The trouble is those loads show up all at once and have a terrible load factor the rest of the time. EVs and electric water tanks end up putting much less pressure on rates so long as those peaks occur at off peak times, that won't be possible for ASHPs w/o storage, which cost more $$$.
July 26, 2025 at 10:10 AM
The trouble is those loads show up all at once and have a terrible load factor the rest of the time. EVs and electric water tanks end up putting much less pressure on rates so long as those peaks occur at off peak times, that won't be possible for ASHPs w/o storage, which cost more $$$.
In my view the solution to this is better heat pump design and technology: sizing closer to load to maximize that peak COP, while moving to lower turndown ratios and R290.
That said, hybrids also very much are deserving of a lower rate and could help lower gas usage, but slows full electrification.
That said, hybrids also very much are deserving of a lower rate and could help lower gas usage, but slows full electrification.
July 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
In my view the solution to this is better heat pump design and technology: sizing closer to load to maximize that peak COP, while moving to lower turndown ratios and R290.
That said, hybrids also very much are deserving of a lower rate and could help lower gas usage, but slows full electrification.
That said, hybrids also very much are deserving of a lower rate and could help lower gas usage, but slows full electrification.
Not aware of specific modeling on it though, aside from modelling for DSM program (which I did a bit of back in the day). When you look at it like that with a reasonable $/kW-year assumptions it's hard to escape how much pressure heat pumps put on the grid/rates.
July 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Not aware of specific modeling on it though, aside from modelling for DSM program (which I did a bit of back in the day). When you look at it like that with a reasonable $/kW-year assumptions it's hard to escape how much pressure heat pumps put on the grid/rates.
Ontario is only marginally summer peaking, wouldn't take many years of large scale adoption for the winter peak to exceed summer. I don't think there is much runway. Similar patterns or worse in other provinces.
July 26, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Ontario is only marginally summer peaking, wouldn't take many years of large scale adoption for the winter peak to exceed summer. I don't think there is much runway. Similar patterns or worse in other provinces.
#energysky
“Balcony Solar” - a hot topic!
The question is: how is this DIY, “permission-less” solar allowed in Europe, but not the US - and what’s stopping us here!
I may have some answers!
A 🧵
“Balcony Solar” - a hot topic!
The question is: how is this DIY, “permission-less” solar allowed in Europe, but not the US - and what’s stopping us here!
I may have some answers!
A 🧵
July 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
It is a fact that averages can misrepresent the circumstances of outliers, that's how they work. I'm responding directly to the evidence you provided. It's already a narrow margin, and it relies on various optimistic assumptions (I focussed on one key one mileage.)
Happy to debate further.
Happy to debate further.
July 20, 2025 at 10:26 AM
It is a fact that averages can misrepresent the circumstances of outliers, that's how they work. I'm responding directly to the evidence you provided. It's already a narrow margin, and it relies on various optimistic assumptions (I focussed on one key one mileage.)
Happy to debate further.
Happy to debate further.
I am pretty mad at Elon for saying my country isn't real...and there's a lot of junk to sift through... It's tempting though
July 19, 2025 at 9:41 PM
I am pretty mad at Elon for saying my country isn't real...and there's a lot of junk to sift through... It's tempting though
That the methodology of the analysis you cited was flawed.
July 19, 2025 at 9:40 PM
That the methodology of the analysis you cited was flawed.
Thanks. This is really it, it's not a huge deal, it's just less fun and that sucks. The original post just kind of exemplified why I've stopped posting as much.
There's still lots of good stuff here to read and engage on, and less junk to sift through than on X.
There's still lots of good stuff here to read and engage on, and less junk to sift through than on X.
July 19, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Thanks. This is really it, it's not a huge deal, it's just less fun and that sucks. The original post just kind of exemplified why I've stopped posting as much.
There's still lots of good stuff here to read and engage on, and less junk to sift through than on X.
There's still lots of good stuff here to read and engage on, and less junk to sift through than on X.
Yes, that's why my interest is on net zero compatible natural gas use, not using it as a bridging fuel.
July 19, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Yes, that's why my interest is on net zero compatible natural gas use, not using it as a bridging fuel.
You are avoiding my arguments with new arguments.
July 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM
You are avoiding my arguments with new arguments.
We need lower than 0.25% for natural gas to make sense in general.
July 19, 2025 at 5:31 PM
We need lower than 0.25% for natural gas to make sense in general.
It was someone celebrating the fact an article about AI had worse engagement here than on X. "That's what a tight ship looks like" was the quote. Actively celebrating the fact this platform's culture drowned out discussion with hostility towards the idea being presented.
July 19, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It was someone celebrating the fact an article about AI had worse engagement here than on X. "That's what a tight ship looks like" was the quote. Actively celebrating the fact this platform's culture drowned out discussion with hostility towards the idea being presented.
So no, you cannot assume that based on a simple calculation of averages (not to mention the other potential issues I pointed to with that analysis).
July 19, 2025 at 5:19 PM
So no, you cannot assume that based on a simple calculation of averages (not to mention the other potential issues I pointed to with that analysis).
Averages are skewed by outliers, and there are *a lot* of outlier drivers on both ends of that spectrum.
Very high mileage cars often serve rural or just in time contexts which EVs still don't cut it for in many cases.
Very high mileage cars often serve rural or just in time contexts which EVs still don't cut it for in many cases.
July 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Averages are skewed by outliers, and there are *a lot* of outlier drivers on both ends of that spectrum.
Very high mileage cars often serve rural or just in time contexts which EVs still don't cut it for in many cases.
Very high mileage cars often serve rural or just in time contexts which EVs still don't cut it for in many cases.
Ad homs suggesting I'm a fossil fuel shill is mostly what gets to me.
July 19, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Ad homs suggesting I'm a fossil fuel shill is mostly what gets to me.