Big energy rebates in our future?

[REWahoo]

We're already seeing tax incentives and some utility company rebates to upgrade to more energy efficient appliances and heating systems. According to this article, those utility company rebates are going to grow substantially:

"When new comprehensive energy legislation aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and curbing emissions of greenhouse gases earns approval by Congress, utilities will have to slow growth in electricity use. Legislators will require power companies to offer programs that put the brakes on consumption before they can get an OK for new plants or transmission lines. To do so, they'll offer sweet deals to both businesses and homeowners: juicy rebates on the purchase of new, super-energy-efficient household appliances, industrial boilers, heating and air conditioning systems and so on, replacing old energy gulpers."

Bottom line: If you can, wait a year or two on replacing any major appliance or HVAC system - your utility company could pick up a big slug of your cost.

[kumquat]

I, personally, won't hold my breath (but then, I'm Canadian).

[samclem]

Our clothes dryer is an older electric model. Clothes dryers can last a very long time--they are simple, and the parts that go out (heating element, thermostat) are usually available and easy to change. So, I could keep it running for a long time. Still, there's now a gas line running through the room and I sometimes think it might be worth swapping installing a gas dryer.
Pros: Lower fuel costs
Cons:
- Expenditure for new machine
- Safety. I'd bet electric dryers catch fire less often. Plus, with combustion there's a carbon monoxide risk.
- Reliability: There are more parts in a gas dryer, and they probably break down more frequently.

With just two of us in the house and the Staber washer that gets the things fairly dry in the spin cycle, I'm fairly sure it's not worth replacing the electric dryer. But if there's some super-duper deal in the future (i.e. if the government gives me a bunch of other people's money to do this) I might just crunch the numbers and maybe go for it.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by samclem Our clothes dryer is an older electric model. ... Still, there's now a gas line running through the room and I sometimes think it might be worth swapping installing a gas dryer. Pros: Lower fuel costs Cons: - Expenditure for new machine - Safety. I'd bet electric dryers catch fire less often. Plus, with combustion there's a carbon monoxide risk. - Reliability: There are more parts in a gas dryer, and they probably break down more frequently.

Interesting. The idea of a gas flame in a dryer (which I knew were a big source of home fires) always scared me.

When we moved to our current house ~ 16 years ago, there was a gas hook-up for the dryer, and no electric there. We kept our old washer & electric dryer (just a few years old), so I'd have to buy new and think about that scary flame. So...

I ran 220 from the not-very-far-away breaker box (plenty of spare circuits available), tested for voltage drops under load when I was done, and we've been electric ever since. Replaced the heater coil once, the belt and bushings once, and that's been it. I have done the math in my head, forget the actual numbers, but it always seems the few hours a week it is actually running and sucking all that power doesn't add up to all that much, but it's not a small number either. And I do figure we will get one of those high rpm front loaders (or Staber top-loader, bin-type) eventually, which will cut dry time. Surprisingly, the washer, with all those moving parts has been absolutely zero maintenance ( OK, I have had to clear the hose screen of some grit from our well a couple times, installed a filter in-line and no problems since). That amazes me - three kids so that washer has seen a lot of use.

However... when I replaced the heater coil in the dryer, I test-ran it with the covers open and I was really surprised to see those things light up bright cherry red like the old toaster coils! Any lint touching that would combust immediately. I don't feel that much safer with electric over gas after seeing that. But you are right - electric = simple, I think I'll stick with it. Fewer kids in the house now, so less washing anyway.

But it re-enforced what I said in a recent thread, don't run the dryer (gas or electric) while you are out or going to bed, just too dangerous.


But - back to the OP - I know I harp on raising taxes on energy if we want to push conservation, but there is another way. The govt could simply say "no new/expansion of power plants". Maybe an exception for renewable (but no subsidy). That would drive prices up if demand increased, and would drive conservation in the same 'thousand ways' as a tax on energy.

-ERD50

[mews]

Do you have room for a rack, or an outdoor clothesline?

I dry my clothing on a rack, and only put the sheets & towels in the dryer.

The clothing lasts a lot longer when its not being beaten to death!

ta,
mews

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mews Do you have room for a rack, or an outdoor clothesline? I dry my clothing on a rack, and only put the sheets & towels in the dryer. The clothing lasts a lot longer when its not being beaten to death! ta, mews

I should consider more of this. Outdoor is not allowed here (very strict regulations, I'm Ok with that, but maybe energy conservation should be considered in this?).

DW does the laundry, and she prefers to get it done all in one day, so that would be a lot of clothes spread out. She hangs rugs and stuff in the basement in the winter when it is dry - I need to look into expanding this in some way, I think - maybe small steps.

thanks - ERD50