Quote:
Originally Posted by Minimac
High efficiency isn't worth much if it isn't cost effective.
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If you take a look at energy prices, and the steep increase in prices, it is clear that "cost effective" is a moving target, with a pretty short life.
A cost effective installation done today may not be so desirable in 10 years, when energy prices may have risen sharply.
The life of a car is fairly short, when compared to the life of a house. There are a large number of houses that were poorly insulated and used lower efficiency heating systems, even when better insulation and more efficient heating systems were available. But they were built to be "cost effective". At the time, it seemed prudent to build them that way, now they are a burden to heat.
As a home owner, or a builder the "cost effective" measure needs to be observed to be competitive.
However, some countries do not leave everything to the market place... Some of the Scandinavian countries, for instance have mandated insulation standards that are much higher than ours. If someone can't afford the standards, the government can help them.
Many of the folks here at EcoRenovator volunteer to install much higher than standard (cost effective) levels of insulation, and heating systems that are more efficient than is 'reasonable'.
You might even say that there is a friendly competition in that regard going on.
Best,
-AC_Hacker