John Semmelhack
@johnsemmelhack.bsky.social
HVAC + Home performance contracting www.comfortsquad.us
CEO (Chief Electrification Officer)
Minister of Heat Pumps (Southeast)
Love this👆but I'd rather be on my bike
CEO (Chief Electrification Officer)
Minister of Heat Pumps (Southeast)
Love this👆but I'd rather be on my bike
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Trump's team backing down in front of Harvard should embolden EVERYONE to stand up to them. Do not comply in advance. Instead say "Fuck you, make me."
Another crucial lesson from this Harvard situation: There is no plan B. Trump's team had no idea what to do if Harvard said "no fuck you."
By first doubling down on the threats and then backing away and lying, they weakened their hand even more! Harvard woudl be wise to say no to the next threat.
By first doubling down on the threats and then backing away and lying, they weakened their hand even more! Harvard woudl be wise to say no to the next threat.
April 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Trump's team backing down in front of Harvard should embolden EVERYONE to stand up to them. Do not comply in advance. Instead say "Fuck you, make me."
Reposted by John Semmelhack
It certainly looks like Elon Musk’s henchmen stole all the data from the agency which protects workers rights, tried to cover it up, and then threatened to kill the guy who blew the whistle on it.
A whistleblower's disclosure details how DOGE may have taken sensitive labor data
A whistleblower tells Congress and NPR that DOGE may have taken sensitive labor data and hid its tracks. "None of that ... information should ever leave the agency," said a former NLRB official.
www.npr.org
April 15, 2025 at 1:58 PM
It certainly looks like Elon Musk’s henchmen stole all the data from the agency which protects workers rights, tried to cover it up, and then threatened to kill the guy who blew the whistle on it.
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Trump to Bukele: "Home-growns are next. The home-growns. You gotta build about five more places. It's not big enough."
April 14, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Trump to Bukele: "Home-growns are next. The home-growns. You gotta build about five more places. It's not big enough."
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
April 11, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Some personal news: the Department of Homeland Security has given me, an immigration lawyer born in Newton, Massachusetts, seven days to leave the U.S. Does anyone know if you can get Italian citizenship through great-grandparents?
Reposted by John Semmelhack
I say this as a pretty rare American who can sew: we don't have the skillset and among those who do the labor costs are beyond what countries like China and Vietnam can charge.
MacCALLUM: Will American workers make shirts and garments for the same--? Obviously the labor costs are so much cheaper overseas in those places
CHAVEZ-DeREMER: We're gonna onshore, repatriate some of these companies to invest in America directly so that we can build that workforce
CHAVEZ-DeREMER: We're gonna onshore, repatriate some of these companies to invest in America directly so that we can build that workforce
April 5, 2025 at 2:37 AM
I say this as a pretty rare American who can sew: we don't have the skillset and among those who do the labor costs are beyond what countries like China and Vietnam can charge.
Reposted by John Semmelhack
This is going to get worse, not better. Never underestimate the American public’s thirst for performative cruelty towards The Other: defendants, foreigners, anyone they’ve been conditioned to see as less than human. We’re the country that made lynchings into picnics.
Homeland Security secretary Kristi Noem making content in front of the imprisoned men of El Salvador's notorious Terrorism Confinement Center mega-prison www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
March 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
This is going to get worse, not better. Never underestimate the American public’s thirst for performative cruelty towards The Other: defendants, foreigners, anyone they’ve been conditioned to see as less than human. We’re the country that made lynchings into picnics.
Al up to no good again...
February 27, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Al up to no good again...
Al covering all the bases...
February 26, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Al covering all the bases...
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Got our ground source heat pumps up and running yesterday. Operating at a paltry ~650% efficiency! PS we had two installed (and are 3-phase).
February 14, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Got our ground source heat pumps up and running yesterday. Operating at a paltry ~650% efficiency! PS we had two installed (and are 3-phase).
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Attention for Illinois area HVAC professionals!
ComEd Customer Innovation is seeking proposal submissions for research about residential heat pump quality install practices. Check out the RFP and read about the three core components of this research here: innovate.comed.com/heat-pump-qu...
ComEd Customer Innovation is seeking proposal submissions for research about residential heat pump quality install practices. Check out the RFP and read about the three core components of this research here: innovate.comed.com/heat-pump-qu...
Heat Pump Quality Installation Adder - ComEd Customer Innovation
Heat Pump Quality Installation Adder Request for Proposals RFP Objective ComEd Customer Innovation is seeking proposal submissions for research about residential heat pump quality installation pract...
innovate.comed.com
February 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Attention for Illinois area HVAC professionals!
ComEd Customer Innovation is seeking proposal submissions for research about residential heat pump quality install practices. Check out the RFP and read about the three core components of this research here: innovate.comed.com/heat-pump-qu...
ComEd Customer Innovation is seeking proposal submissions for research about residential heat pump quality install practices. Check out the RFP and read about the three core components of this research here: innovate.comed.com/heat-pump-qu...
Reposted by John Semmelhack
The EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey is one of the best sources of data about how people use energy in their homes - heating, cooling, lighting, appliances, and everything in between. It's a treasure trove of data that I reference often.
I mirrored it: www.heatpumped.org/c/eiarecsmir...
I mirrored it: www.heatpumped.org/c/eiarecsmir...
February 8, 2025 at 6:14 PM
The EIA Residential Energy Consumption Survey is one of the best sources of data about how people use energy in their homes - heating, cooling, lighting, appliances, and everything in between. It's a treasure trove of data that I reference often.
I mirrored it: www.heatpumped.org/c/eiarecsmir...
I mirrored it: www.heatpumped.org/c/eiarecsmir...
So much “low hanging fruit” still to pick from the demand response “tree”:
This evening, Dominion called an EV charging DR event, but just for 1 hour. Program rules say event can be up to 4hrs. Result: after end of event, Dom is paying close to $1/kWh (until prices go ⬇️) while my car charges 🤦♂️
This evening, Dominion called an EV charging DR event, but just for 1 hour. Program rules say event can be up to 4hrs. Result: after end of event, Dom is paying close to $1/kWh (until prices go ⬇️) while my car charges 🤦♂️
January 23, 2025 at 3:02 AM
So much “low hanging fruit” still to pick from the demand response “tree”:
This evening, Dominion called an EV charging DR event, but just for 1 hour. Program rules say event can be up to 4hrs. Result: after end of event, Dom is paying close to $1/kWh (until prices go ⬇️) while my car charges 🤦♂️
This evening, Dominion called an EV charging DR event, but just for 1 hour. Program rules say event can be up to 4hrs. Result: after end of event, Dom is paying close to $1/kWh (until prices go ⬇️) while my car charges 🤦♂️
Reposted by John Semmelhack
I am at a presentation and these results from the nycha pilot of Gradient + Midea America window heat pumps are really impressive. I’ll share the presentation when the building energy exchange puts it up, but this alone is incredible.
January 16, 2025 at 3:30 PM
I am at a presentation and these results from the nycha pilot of Gradient + Midea America window heat pumps are really impressive. I’ll share the presentation when the building energy exchange puts it up, but this alone is incredible.
Reposted by John Semmelhack
🚨job alert🚨
Would you, or someone you know, like to channel something into thinking rigorously about how safe and electrified housing for everyone might also save the grid?
I'm hiring a postdoc! 1-2 years, remote ok, $75k/year. Focus: model scenarios on deep building efficiency & grid impacts
Would you, or someone you know, like to channel something into thinking rigorously about how safe and electrified housing for everyone might also save the grid?
I'm hiring a postdoc! 1-2 years, remote ok, $75k/year. Focus: model scenarios on deep building efficiency & grid impacts
January 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
🚨job alert🚨
Would you, or someone you know, like to channel something into thinking rigorously about how safe and electrified housing for everyone might also save the grid?
I'm hiring a postdoc! 1-2 years, remote ok, $75k/year. Focus: model scenarios on deep building efficiency & grid impacts
Would you, or someone you know, like to channel something into thinking rigorously about how safe and electrified housing for everyone might also save the grid?
I'm hiring a postdoc! 1-2 years, remote ok, $75k/year. Focus: model scenarios on deep building efficiency & grid impacts
Looks like I got my units wrong yesterday…should have been GW (not MW) for the grid peak. How embarrassing!
Anyhoo…it looks like we won’t quite hit that peak this am…but tomorrow’s forecast is to smash the all time peak (summer and winter) at 24.3GW
Anyhoo…it looks like we won’t quite hit that peak this am…but tomorrow’s forecast is to smash the all time peak (summer and winter) at 24.3GW
Dominion Energy (via the PJM Now app) is projecting an all-time winter peak* for tomorrow morning of 22.8MW
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
January 8, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Looks like I got my units wrong yesterday…should have been GW (not MW) for the grid peak. How embarrassing!
Anyhoo…it looks like we won’t quite hit that peak this am…but tomorrow’s forecast is to smash the all time peak (summer and winter) at 24.3GW
Anyhoo…it looks like we won’t quite hit that peak this am…but tomorrow’s forecast is to smash the all time peak (summer and winter) at 24.3GW
Dominion Energy (via the PJM Now app) is projecting an all-time winter peak* for tomorrow morning of 22.8MW
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
January 7, 2025 at 9:55 PM
Dominion Energy (via the PJM Now app) is projecting an all-time winter peak* for tomorrow morning of 22.8MW
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
Our all-electric house and attached apartment will contribute ~2kW to this load during that hour w/o any special controls or battery system
Resourceful future heat pump homeowner here…turning furnace failure emergency into data gathering session + providing temporary comfort + avoid expensive furnace repair.
She’ll soon have an accurate view into real heating needs of her house, much more accurate than local contractors can provide.
She’ll soon have an accurate view into real heating needs of her house, much more accurate than local contractors can provide.
We are about to implement the experiment to help us find the best match heat pump!
Outside temperature at noon today was 30F after 14F at 6am. Inside, we were 62F downstairs and a toasty 68F upstairs. Missing is how much heat energy we're using.
Outside temperature at noon today was 30F after 14F at 6am. Inside, we were 62F downstairs and a toasty 68F upstairs. Missing is how much heat energy we're using.
December 24, 2024 at 6:30 PM
Resourceful future heat pump homeowner here…turning furnace failure emergency into data gathering session + providing temporary comfort + avoid expensive furnace repair.
She’ll soon have an accurate view into real heating needs of her house, much more accurate than local contractors can provide.
She’ll soon have an accurate view into real heating needs of her house, much more accurate than local contractors can provide.
Who knew that I could just check my Blue Sky heat pump feed for permit status of an upcoming project, rather than checking my email?
MR-24-0189: Residential Mechanical Permit/Complete Heat Pump System @ 2407 JEFFERSON PARK AVE
Building Code Type: VRC
Building Code Year: 2021
Building Use Code: R5 - One and Two Family Dwellings
...
https://permits.charlottesville.gov/portal/PermitInfo/Index?caObjectId=46045
Building Code Type: VRC
Building Code Year: 2021
Building Use Code: R5 - One and Two Family Dwellings
...
https://permits.charlottesville.gov/portal/PermitInfo/Index?caObjectId=46045
December 23, 2024 at 12:53 PM
Who knew that I could just check my Blue Sky heat pump feed for permit status of an upcoming project, rather than checking my email?
Ecobee still giving bad advice on the outdoor temperature at which you should shut off your heat pump.
Hint for Ecobee: especially at thermostat setup, the thermostat knows nothing about the house and nothing about the heat pump…therefore it should give zero advice on this topic.
Hint for Ecobee: especially at thermostat setup, the thermostat knows nothing about the house and nothing about the heat pump…therefore it should give zero advice on this topic.
December 21, 2024 at 5:27 PM
Ecobee still giving bad advice on the outdoor temperature at which you should shut off your heat pump.
Hint for Ecobee: especially at thermostat setup, the thermostat knows nothing about the house and nothing about the heat pump…therefore it should give zero advice on this topic.
Hint for Ecobee: especially at thermostat setup, the thermostat knows nothing about the house and nothing about the heat pump…therefore it should give zero advice on this topic.
Reposted by John Semmelhack
Wake up babe, a new heatpump benefit just dropped.
Apparently some of you don't realize how absolutely fucked Canada would be if we let Doug Ford escalate a tariff war into an energy war. Like, the US could cut off practically all natural gas to Ontario and Quebec if it wanted.
December 12, 2024 at 1:14 PM
Wake up babe, a new heatpump benefit just dropped.
Heads up: Someone / thing is impersonating @jessedjenkins.com I reported and blocked them.
December 9, 2024 at 1:16 AM
Heads up: Someone / thing is impersonating @jessedjenkins.com I reported and blocked them.
Heat Pump Mythbuster (#1 of ?)
Myth: New England electricity prices are too high for heat pumps to be competitive on operating cost!
Reality: ~60% of NE households (~3.5 million) use heating oil, propane or electricity (mostly electric resistance heat…not heat pumps) for primary heating fuel.
1/
Myth: New England electricity prices are too high for heat pumps to be competitive on operating cost!
Reality: ~60% of NE households (~3.5 million) use heating oil, propane or electricity (mostly electric resistance heat…not heat pumps) for primary heating fuel.
1/
December 8, 2024 at 10:09 PM
Heat Pump Mythbuster (#1 of ?)
Myth: New England electricity prices are too high for heat pumps to be competitive on operating cost!
Reality: ~60% of NE households (~3.5 million) use heating oil, propane or electricity (mostly electric resistance heat…not heat pumps) for primary heating fuel.
1/
Myth: New England electricity prices are too high for heat pumps to be competitive on operating cost!
Reality: ~60% of NE households (~3.5 million) use heating oil, propane or electricity (mostly electric resistance heat…not heat pumps) for primary heating fuel.
1/
Reposted by John Semmelhack
I have done a bunch of climate reporting and gone through the “it’s complicated” middle of the learning curve on this issue and gotten spat right back out where I started:
we need to stop burning stuff
yes, that stuff too
yes, even that stuff
we need to stop burning stuff
yes, that stuff too
yes, even that stuff
December 7, 2024 at 8:32 PM
I have done a bunch of climate reporting and gone through the “it’s complicated” middle of the learning curve on this issue and gotten spat right back out where I started:
we need to stop burning stuff
yes, that stuff too
yes, even that stuff
we need to stop burning stuff
yes, that stuff too
yes, even that stuff
This is an approximation of our stress level waking up to a 3rd very cold* morning in a row with 100’s of heat pumps installed at our clients’ homes.
*~20F is very cold for us here in central Virginia…wake me up if it gets close to 0F.
*~20F is very cold for us here in central Virginia…wake me up if it gets close to 0F.
December 4, 2024 at 3:49 PM
This is an approximation of our stress level waking up to a 3rd very cold* morning in a row with 100’s of heat pumps installed at our clients’ homes.
*~20F is very cold for us here in central Virginia…wake me up if it gets close to 0F.
*~20F is very cold for us here in central Virginia…wake me up if it gets close to 0F.