The majority of people only give a shit once they have been affected.
Random anecdote, but here in Colorado last weekend after the first preemptive electric shutdown for 1-2 days during a wind event to reduce risk of downed lines starting fires, I’ve heard multiple people talk about buying generators. In several cases whole home gas fired generators, and not a single person discussing battery backup/solar. I know someone with solar already that’s installing a whole home gas generator, doesn’t think batteries are reliable enough for “reasons”. So we have folks that are being reactive, have money to spend to “fix” an issue, but still aren’t connecting the dots. So unfortunately, from what I’m seeing, even after they are affected many still seem to activate the lizard brain and focus on immediate term needs. Obviously there are many conversations happening at once, but the “average person” needs policy and programs that meet them at their level and we have a long way to go.
I’d love to be able to install solar but I’d have to take down trees that just got big enough to be worth having a few years ago to do that and they provide more passive cooling than I’d get power generation.
Maybe when I have some fruit trees to put in and a heat pump for cooling until they get big enough, but at best I could do batteries from the grid (tho my area is largely hydro powered so that wouldn’t be too bad anyway)
I’d do the same thing in your situation. Focus on what makes sense for your home/situation, keep the trees, and enjoy that hydro power :)
Yay but repairing costs more than preventing…
Well the good news is that everyone will get a taste before too long.
