Households could face extra taxes if they refuse to remove their gas boilers, a senior energy boss has suggested.
Emma Fletcher, who leads a project at Octopus Energy to encourage households to make their homes net zero, said that there needed to be a “carrot and stick” approach for people to switch to heat pumps.
And if we used the carbon tax, like we’re supposed to, then they already would, wouldn’t they?
Or alternatively, and bear with me here, this is a revolutionary idea…
They could leave us the fuck alone.
Ah, yes. The electric heat pumps powered by wind turbines and solar panels. It’s all fun and games until the temperature drops below the point where they can no longer function.
Emma Fletcher, who leads a project at Octopus Energy to encourage households to make their homes net zero, said that there needed to be a “carrot and stick” approach for people to switch to heat pumps.
There needs to be a “stick and stick” approach to Emma Fletcher’s face.
“And if we used the carbon tax, like we’re supposed to, then they already would, wouldn’t they”?
No Tim.
You arguing for the best solution to the problem of ‘2 + 2 = 5’ doesn’t get away from the fact that 2 + 2 doesn’t equal 5.
If the peeps were aware of the fact that ‘man using fossil fuels causes global warming’ is nothing more than a gravy train for shysters, eco-warriors, control freaks and a load of complete and utter bollocks, passengers on said train would be told where to get off.
We know you have the hots for Pigou taxes but that assumes that gas boilers are badness incarnate. The only externality with burning gas is that it will eventually run out, and that will be safely factored into the price by scarcity when the time comes – no need for taxes.
I would love to see a case study of heat pump install in typical houses. Ones with conservatories or bifold doors running across their backs making it hideously unsightly to have a big ugly heat pump whirring away on the other side of the glass, and technically challenging to get the pipework and wiring to them. Then perhaps it could look at a 10-20 year old house with rooms so small, adding any insulation would mean that you can’t actually fit a bed in the bedrooms and kitchens and bathrooms would need complete rebuilds.
The cost of the heat pump itself is going to be a very minor item in the total bill. Taxing people for not doing something they can’t afford or want to do is perverse.
TG
And even all we need to do is harness all the cow farts.
Provided the Greens haven’t culled them all.
I still think the old-fashioned approach of just burning the Greens is the simplest solution Otto.
Even assuming that heat pumps are a good idea (they aren’t) and I wanted one (I don’t), there is nowhere to fit one on my property, so it isn’t possible. See also, solar panels and cavity wall insulation. And therein lies the reality that their ridiculous ideas are going to come up against. There are properties like mine all over the UK where these things won’t fit or work.
Oh and Emma Fletcher needs her stick shoved good and hard where the sun don’t shine.
Does Emma Fletcher have a heat pump in her home?
Does Emma Fletcher have a heat pump in her home?
1.01 says she’d love to have one but her house/flat isn’t suitable. Rather like the “refugees welcome” (but not in my home because it’s rented/not enough room etc etc) crowd.
I should like to hear more about the carrot bedcause I suspect it’s illusory.
TMB – The carrot is a stick painted orange.
I.e. the cake is a lie.
Hope that helps x
That atmospheric CO2, also H2O and CH4 stops a small portion of night-time infrared escaping to space is not in doubt. Dialling up the proportion of CO2 increases the night-time warming, or lack of night-time cooling by a small amount.
The danger of not having a CO2 tax is that stupid things like invading homes is done instead. One I find amusing is inferring the temperature of houses from close-pass satellites, then knocking on the doors of the people who are running their gaffs too hot, and we wouldn’t want that. You don’t know what horticulturalist with an armed brickhouse doorman is waiting behind the door. Just stick the incentive to switch to LEDs into prices. But the logic of net zero is that meddling must be done.
Likewise pet dogs – should be banned ‘cos emissions.
Over the pond
“Ah, yes. The electric heat pumps powered by wind turbines and solar panels. It’s all fun and games until the temperature drops below the point where they can no longer function.”
I think we’ll find they’ve planned this to a tee. Just at the point the pumps don’t work (…), there won’t be sufficient unicorn farts anyway – trebbles all round.
The carrot is a stick painted orange.
That’s how it strikes me.
Carbon taxes would yield the outcome the greens desires, but from the politicians’ perspective, reaching that outcome in that manner is no fun when compared to beating with sticks.
Friend was telling me about a recent council community meeting they went to where one of the issues raised was methane from people disposing of dog waste in the official bins set up in the local park. The world really has gone mad
The danger of not having a CO2 tax is that stupid things like invading homes is done instead.
All countries with carbon taxes also have the invasive and stupid green policies. The idea that they are alternatives is a known lie that should not be perpetuated.
‘Oh and Emma Fletcher needs her stick shoved good and hard where the sun don’t shine.’
Followed by the carrot. Or preferably a parsnip.