Homeowners, which of these consumes more energy in your house: space heating or water heating? Either way, Uncle Sam is ready to help you pay for some energy-efficient upgrades.

The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden a year ago, created two energy-efficiency rebate programs that could pay some, or even all, of the costs of buying Energy Star-rated appliances, adding insulation or otherwise making your home more efficient.

The rub: States will administer the programs, and each one must apply for its share of the $8.8 billion in federal funds earmarked for the rebates. And some states may opt out.

…

One state has already indicated it probably won’t participate. Lawmakers in Tallahassee voted to apply for Florida’s allocation — which, at roughly $346 million, is the third-largest in the country, behind California and Texas. But Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed the measure as “woke.” The DoE has not been officially notified, so DeSantis could still change his mind.

  • FancyLad @lemmy.world
    112·
    1 year ago

    Here in Florida we like our appliances as inefficient as possible! I only wish I could pay more in utility fees or pollute more to offset the other states involvement in yet another woke conspiracy to save energy! /s

      • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
        12·
        1 year ago

        We were driving the 70-or-so minute drive to my mom’s house and we were stuck behind some asshole rolling coal so much that it literally impaired the vision of the people behind them from all the black smoke. It was so fucking disgusting. Why the hell do people do that? Just to pollute out of spite? I don’t even get it.

        • SpaceCowboy@lemmy.ca
          11·
          1 year ago

          I had to google rolling coal because I never even heard of it.

          So people pay money to modify their vehicles just to fuck the environment. Holy shit that’s stupid.

          • lad@programming.dev
            2·
            1 year ago

            Same here, and I immediately got to question its legal status and found out that it is apparently not illegal in many states despite US Environment Protection Agency saying so 😢

            I just can’t believe people would do that out of, I dunno, spite? Like breaking an arm to spite your parents or something

            Such meaningful acts of harming others directly or indirectly is what makes me lose faith in humanity sometimes

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      6·
      1 year ago

      I’m sure those inefficient air conditioners in Florida that cost people a fortune don’t need replacing. Why bother?

      • Goodtoknow@lemmy.ca
        1·
        1 year ago

        Can Air conditioners really get more efficient than window units or central? There are heat pumps which are better, but other than that the majority of better efficiency comes from better wall and window insulation to keep the cold in.

          • AA5B@lemmy.world
            3·
            1 year ago

            In addition, technology improves. A newer AC is more efficient than an older one.

            I imagine heat pumps are fantastic down there as well, since most (all?) of Florida occasionally needs heat, but it never gets cold enough to keep heat pumps from working at their best

            • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
              3·
              1 year ago

              I’m from North Carolina, and heat pumps are plenty sufficient here. I grew up in a house with a heat pump, we stayed plenty warm. I’m SURE you don’t need a furnace in Florida.

        • evranch@lemmy.ca
          2·
          1 year ago

          EEV > TXV > Capillary tube, the evolution of expansion valves and pressure control in refrigeration units has been significant. The lower compression ratio you can run, the higher the COP.

          Cap tubes are what you find in basic and old window shakers, completely passive and only work well at one power point, TXVs control superheat which is a big improvement and are common in “ordinary” central units, EEVs allow full control of high and low side pressure and compression ratio and are seen in modern inverter drive/heat pump/mini split systems.

          Inverter drive compressors are a huge improvement too.