Some people are so disconnected from reality, they think that living in a neighborhood where everyone has metal bars over the windows means it's safer.

It really depends on your situation. My heat pump is actually much cheaper than the oil furnace I replaced. My highest bill last year was $450 but I have no gas or oil bill while my neighbor was paying close to 1k to fill up his tank every 1 and a half month, I would say I made it out like bandits compared to him.

Gas on the other hands cost pretty close. Gas might be a little bit cheaper but it is more comfortable than heat pump heat. On the other hand though, if you use window AC then getting a heat pump is a no brainer.

Getting off grid with heat pump will be expensive if at all possible for a 2000 sw ft home. While heat pumps are efficient, they consume too much energy for ordinary residential solar system. Idk how much roof space you have but probably not enough, you'd have to build a ground array too. My friend has a 25kw system which covered every inch of his roof + a ground array and a wind turbine to power his geothermal system, even then he has a wood stove to assist the system.

Hot water is easy, a hybrid water heater is the way to go. Not only does it use very little energy, it will also keep your basement dry and cool. A normal solar system can easily deal with it.

Getting minisplits are expensive because every fucking contractor wants your rebate and give you fuck you quotes. My neighbor was given a 26k quote for 8 minisplits and he ended up doing it himself for 10k + hiring an electrician. You can buy DIY Mrcool from home Depot or Lowe's for cheap and doing it yourself is easy if you don't mind drilling a hole through your exterior wall. I have a 3 ton unit for 2 years now and it works fine but fuck, I got a fireplace insert because it's on for like 12 hours a day.

One thing I wished I knew before getting a solar system is that MASS SAVE provide Interest Free loan for the batteries!! Use it!!

Here's what I have so far: fireplace insert, 3 ton Mr cool universal heat pump, 7.6kw Tesla solar with 1 powerwall, electric water heater (planning to upgrade to hybrid eventually). In the summer, my solar system generate 150-200% of my power usage but only 10-15% in the winter due to my house being surrounded by trees. The only way I'll go off grid is a huge solar array + wind turbine.

Who would choose Worcester over Boston

Texas is the biggest threat but I'd like to think NY is our buffer zone.

Couldn't pick a better time for me to go vegan

It's the only thing the fed can do. Rate hike is good for the rich. The job economy is too stron. We want cheaper labor and cheaper stuff and it's the big advantage for the rich. Cheaper stuff doesn't matter for any of us if we're going to end up at the soup kitchen and wendy's dumpster.

Inflation will also force people to spend less.

ok... so when more hurricanes destroy more homes in florida, jacking up insurance rates even more, how would interest rates solve that?

or Mississippi river no longer a shipping lane, causing the price of soy to double and cost of cattle feed to double, how?

How do rate increase fight the cause of inflation?

Using interest rate to fight climate change, health crisis and war is highly regarded.