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Harris Berton

@harrisberton.bsky.social

4.9K followers 1.9K following 1.8K posts

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

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

I've mostly stopped posting anything interesting on here given the "tight ship" (read: idea suppression) culture.

It's a shame, X is awful but I've found this platform even worse in other ways. Less junk to sift through but the interesting conversations take a back seat to opinion policing.

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · 13d

Black pill on this: yes autistic ppl can be rude, but the actual issue is most people do not value curiosity or clarity. It's just too much work, and most people (i.e. neurotpypical people) just don't enjoy/value that work the way autistic people do.

Karen K. Ho @karenho.bsky.social · 13d

I have just learned that autistic people who ask questions because of curiosity and seeking clarification are viewed as antagonistic and argumentative and that explains so many interactions that have ended poorly in my life

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Aug 26

How much did it cost to insulate?

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 29

Of course the fossil fuel sector has slowed the transition, but climate advocacy has also failed by any measure. Digging into old strategies won't work. Time for a rethink.

#energysky #climatesky

Michael Liebreich @mliebreich.bsky.social · Jul 29

There will be more detail on the failures in part II. In essence it's about exaggerating the science, over-reaching on the solutions, and feeding polarization. Niaru gave a perfect example of blaming "the fossil fuel sector", when it's all of us who buy from them. BTW, I love your and Glen's work!

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Reposted by Harris Berton

Michael Liebreich @mliebreich.bsky.social · Jul 29

No. The climate community needs to stop blaming other people for its own failures.

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 28

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).

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 26

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 26

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 $$$.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 26

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 26

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.

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 26

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.

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 23

The answers are here! Fascinating!

bsky.app/profile/alph...

Carl Lenox @alphaconstant.bsky.social · Nov 23

#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 🧵

Reposted by Harris Berton

Nate the House Whisperer @energysmartwv.bsky.social · Jul 21

This is the best heat pump explainer video I've ever seen!

Great work Drew Tozer!

If you like it, bookmark it and share when you see an opportunity!

#2wayac #heatpump #HVAC

bit.ly/BestHPexplai...

Heat Pumps, Explained (And Why Everyone’s Switching)

What's a Heat Pump? | Simple Animated Explainer 👉 Wondering how a heat pump works? In this short, animated video, we break down the basics of heat pumps--and explain why so many homeowners are switching. In this video, you’ll learn: What a heat pump is How heat pumps work in both summer and winter How heat pumps get heat from cold air How they compare to furnaces and air conditioners Why they're better for home comfort Thinking about installing a heat pump? Visit https://www.foundryheatpumps.ca to get more information. Or buy a copy of Drew Tozer's Amazon #1 Best Seller, Feel-Good Homes: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1781339163/ #heatpumps #howheatpumpswork #energyefficienthomes #sustainableheating #greenerhomes #hvacexplainer #airsourceheatpump #homecomfort #cleanenergy #netzero #electrification #decarbonization

bit.ly

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 20

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

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

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

That the methodology of the analysis you cited was flawed.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

Yes, that's why my interest is on net zero compatible natural gas use, not using it as a bridging fuel.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

You are avoiding my arguments with new arguments.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

Agree!

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

We need lower than 0.25% for natural gas to make sense in general.

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Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

👆

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

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).

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

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.

Harris Berton @harrisberton.bsky.social · Jul 19

Yes for sure.