Posted on 05/07/2024 8:06:34 AM PDT by Brilliant
Your next new home air conditioner could set you back $12,000 or more, with federal regulators contributing to the rising cost of staying cool.
Before 2020, buying and installing a new residential central air conditioner typically cost well under $10,000. Many jobs, including both purchase and installation, fell in the $6,000 to $7,000 range—about half the current price—says Martin Hoover, a co-owner of Atlanta-based Empire Heating & Air Conditioning.
While many factors, including rising material costs, have contributed to the increase in prices, regulations have played an outsize role. The Energy Department in January 2023 issued a new efficiency standard for residential systems. It necessitated a major redesign that increased costs by $1,000 to $1,500, according to Mr. Hoover. DOE bureaucrats say the regulation will deliver net benefits for homeowners, but it isn’t clear that consumers will ever earn back in long-term energy savings the steeper upfront costs they’re paying…
(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...
“it isn’t clear that consumers will ever earn back in long-term energy savings”
That might be true with today’s electricity rates, but Brandon’s planned 5X increase in electricity rates means it will pay off quickly.
Given where the house is and the slim chance of simultaneous multiple failures as well as something working being far better than nothing, yes, it’s better.
Thanks!!
Geothermal is an option, but of course it does require electricity to run the pump and blowers/fans.
“Biden won’t let northerners heat their homes, nor southerners cool their homes.”
Somehow, though, the White House, the Capitol Building, and the K Street lobbyists offices will continue to be cool and comfy even in the dog days of August.
It’s so important to allow the representatives of the people to be comfortable when voting to oppress Americans. So we can’t interfere with their important work.
Hopefully the black market can help out . . .
Yes. You can get a good window air conditioner for $200, well under the $10k or more cited above.
How about some efficiency standards for government?
I guess the patents are about to run out on the current refrigerant used in ACs and a new company has a ‘much better’ ‘earth friendly’ refrigerant they just developed. Of course, it’s one-of-a-kind and patented.
I just had a new central system installed - just under $12K
No mention that the new refrigerant is also flammable.
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