Tea Party actively trying to damage economy?

[z31maniac]

Yes I blame them. Small business owner here. We started one business in 2007 and another in 2009. Both businesses have improved as a direct result of some of the policies that have been passed. I personally have seen a $2500 tax credit for investing $10,000 in a start up venture. We have also got an increase in business as a direct result of the bank bailout money. (We work in Charlotte, so the banking industry has a bigger impact on us). We have been busy enough in one of the companies to hire someone. The other is busy but not enough to hire. Overall, we are pretty pleased. I know I don't speak for all business owners, but the Tea Party sure doesn't speak for me.

Wait, when did you go from working somewhere, where they allow you to come in with no shoes, to owning multiple small businesses?

[herbivor]

Wait, when did you go from working somewhere, where they allow you to come in with no shoes, to owning multiple small businesses?

Same place. One of the many advantages of working for yourself.

[mrsleeve]

what happens when the green subsidies stop ??? you business venture go tits up or what???

[herbivor]

what happens when the green subsidies stop ??? you business venture go tits up or what???

Business venture is not in the green economy. It's in a medical device company. We are selling more overseas to countries with universal care than here. It seems that when a government has to cover all of its people it has a genuine interest in trying to reduce costs and provide good care. Not so much here in the states where there is no central organized place that can make such decisions. The US is a harder sell because we have to go hospital to hospital and to several distributors to sell the products. A lot more work but eventually we'll get there.

I explored starting up a green consulting/ weatherizing company back in 2004 before it was cool but financially it didn't make any since because there weren't many incentives or subsidies. Even now, there is little incentive to save energy. Most people requesting "green" technology are educated and looking to stay in their house for awhile. Unfortunately that doesn't make up a large percentage of the population.

On a similar note, I have a buddy that is a hardcore libertarian that is taking advantage of the solar subsidy, because in our state it finally has become financially competitive and actually cheaper if you DIY than the utility. He's going off the grid in fear of inflation. Yes I pointed it out the hypocracy of accepting a subsidy to him but he doesn't care when it effects his own pocketbook.

[z31maniac]

We've looked at things windows and such to upgrade out house. But the payback is so long, especially in a state with such low energy costs.

We'd spend $6k doing windows/sliding door, it those cut our energy usage by say 30%, it would take something like 40 years to pay for themselves. So solar/geothermal/etc really doesn't make any sense for us.

[herbivor]

We've looked at things windows and such to upgrade out house. But the payback is so long, especially in a state with such low energy costs.

We'd spend $6k doing windows/sliding door, it those cut our energy usage by say 30%, it would take something like 40 years to pay for themselves. So solar/geothermal/etc really doesn't make any sense for us.

Yep. It's not for everyone. We've looked at the same thing. The best bang for the buck is spray foam the attic and tightening up existing duct work. Even upgrading to a higher SEER unit had no cost benefit. When you run the numbers and look at the overall impact to the carbon savings, Obama's weatherization program is quite a joke. All that money wasted.:roll:

[Wiglaf]

Do you blame them???
and the policy that has been passed in recent years puts additional burden on them.

99% BS from right-wing talking heads.

[joshh]

99% BS from right-wing talking heads.

Yep, Obamacare isn't going to add to our National debt, because he said so. And it's *perfectly clear* what small businesses are going to have to pitch in for the coverage. Just as one example...

[mar1t1me]

And now, apparently, the gov't is allowing some businesses to pocket the money they deduct from your paycheck for taxes!

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/19/column-dcjohnston-statetaxes-idUSN1E76H1YD20110719

Crap, it's like giving them a kickback to keep your job!

[dirtysix]

We've looked at things windows and such to upgrade out house. But the payback is so long, especially in a state with such low energy costs.

We'd spend $6k doing windows/sliding door, it those cut our energy usage by say 30%, it would take something like 40 years to pay for themselves. So solar/geothermal/etc really doesn't make any sense for us.

Curious to know what your energy costs are like.
For electricity we are paying 21.06c/kW/h and a fixed daily lines charge of 91c/day and it pisses me off :hitler:

But even at ~$300/month winter rate it still takes forever to justify any alternatives.

Installing a $9k solar hot water system made a noticeable difference but the only real advantage may come as a selling point if we ever put the thing on the market

[z31maniac]

Don't have an electric bill handy, but even in July/August this year when the AC was running literally 20-22 hours a day, our electric bill didn't even get up to $175 for a month.

In April this year, never needed the heat or AC, I think our electric bill was $38ish.

Our heat is natural gas, so this winter will interesting. In July we had a bunch of insulation blown in the attic, so we will get to see how well it works. Last year our Jan/Feb heating bill was in the $150 range I think.


We also have a small house by modern McMansion standards. A 3 bed, 1 bath, 2 garage, that's only 1150 sq ft.

[CorvallisBMW]

Oregon had a killer bunch of rebates and credits of energy improvements. My dad put in all-new windows through his whole house (including two 5x12s and a 6x8 bay, holy $$$) plus a bunch of blown-in insulation as was able to get 80% of the costs covered.

[dirtysix]

Don't have an electric bill handy, but even in July/August this year when the AC was running literally 20-22 hours a day, our electric bill didn't even get up to $175 for a month.

In April this year, never needed the heat or AC, I think our electric bill was $38ish.

Our heat is natural gas, so this winter will interesting. In July we had a bunch of insulation blown in the attic, so we will get to see how well it works. Last year our Jan/Feb heating bill was in the $150 range I think.


We also have a small house by modern McMansion standards. A 3 bed, 1 bath, 2 garage, that's only 1150 sq ft.

Bugger me, that's cheap. With no AC and full solar water gain we're still paying about $200/month in summer.

Shouldn't have asked the question, only winds me up further ha.

[der affe]

Geezzzz, with a pool, A/C, no solar, all cfl bulbs, and keeping the house at 80°, the highest i ran was $275!

You guys get boned over there!

[z31maniac]

Oh and that was keeping the house at 70.