Got into an interesting discussion on what matters in communication.
Nuance gets missed a lot when people tell half-truths. For instance, an astonishing amount of folks say they want gas as their heating system because of power outages.
Most gas-fired systems still need electricity to operate. Which, anyone who has lived with one during a power outage, already knows.
That half-truth is that a gas-fired system can more easily be supplied with emergency power. But most people don't have that.
So does the point even deserve to be made?
Truly, I think it doesn't.
The loss of any primary system becomes an emergency in extreme cold. And you'd be better-off to prepare for that.
A gas-fired heating system is not preparation for that. It makes one consideration easier, sure. But first and foremost people need to make that consideration - which most don't.
And there are plenty of backup options. I, for one, would rather have some propane on-hand for a portable heater when shit hits fan.
@TechConnectify It's like your "but sometimes" video!
Is it possible to hand-light a gas stove when the electricity is out? Yes.
Why are you planning for the 0.5% use case? This is a house, not a space ship.
@timjclevenger @preinheimer And that was a tragedy which would have been prevented if any of the following occurred:
1. Texas would grow the fuck up and connect their grid to the rest of the country
2. Emergency preparedness was front-and-center in peoples' minds, both on individuals levels and in the minds of the powers-that-be
3. Sensible building standards were created and actually enforced to reduce energy needs and also extend the time homes stay warm without power
@TechConnectify @timjclevenger @preinheimer FWIW, we had an ice storm that knocked out power here in Montreal at the start of April last year. We were without power (read: without our heat pumps, and baseboard heaters) for ~40h. It was below 0°C outside for much of that.
After the first day, I ran the generator to power the fridges and recharge our backup batteries.
I showered after ~30h, and we washed some dishes. Still had tank hot water.
It was fine.
@sean @TechConnectify @timjclevenger @preinheimer
It's worth very little. You'd die of heatstroke in a Texas summer, and Texans don't have insulation like you do. They don't have baseboard heaters. They don't have heat pumps. They don't have basements.
They don't have wool clothes. They don't have clothes in sizes meant to accommodate a lot of layers. They don't have what you'd think of as winter coats at all. You can barely find them at all.
What did you add, exactly?
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