"Living close to the ocean is nature's air conditioning. Go a few miles inland and the temps rise dramatically."
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This describes the Bay Area perfectly. There can be as much as a 20 degree temperature difference on each side of the Caldecott Tunnel. It's crazy.
"And Pacifica is pretty far from the southern edge of NorCal."
Pacifica is a pretty awesome place.
I grew up in San Mateo east of the Bayshore freeway. Coyote Point was our backyard playground.
"Your ocean is considerably cooler than ours."
I first encountered the Atlantic - east of Jacksonville - when I was 17. I did my usual 'take a deep breath for courage' before stepping into the water. It was like bath water. Not unpleasant, but I didn't know oceans weren't cold. Overall, given the temperature and unimpressive waves, it was just a little disappointing as an experience.
"NorCal is also home to Humboldt County."
This is how big California is: From Milwaukee, you could get to three other states and a foreign country in less than the time it would have taken me to get to Eureka, the only large town in Humboldt. And Pacifica is pretty far from the southern edge of NorCal.
NorCal is also home to Humboldt County. It's that weather and soil up there. I could see Flip living in the woods with 1/2 an acre of the Devil's Lettuce growing.
"I grew up on a foggy ridge above a Northern California beach..."
Northern California where the girls are warm... ;)
"Living close to the ocean is nature's air conditioning."
Your ocean is considerably cooler than ours.
I mentioned previously that I have been experimenting with solar panels and LiFePO4 batteries and am happy to report my KWHs were down 39% in June compared to 2023 resulting in over $80 in savings.
I am not grid-tied, I just have 7200 WH of storage (an EcoFlow Delta Pro with one Extra Battery), 2400W of solar panels connected through a manual transfer switch. The main reason I got the setup was for outages during hurricane season so the ROI is just a bonus.
~Scamp
I grew up on a foggy ridge above a Northern California beach town. There was the occasional warm spell in the summer, but usually it was cool and grey until the valleys stopped pulling in Nature's air conditioning sometime in early fall. We had a furnace, but it was rarely used.
If we wanted warmth and the sun, it was less than five miles away.
"Go a few miles inland and the temps rise dramatically."
This is true.
I grew up about 25 miles from the coast. It is not unusual there to have temperatures over 100 during the summer. I'm about a mile from the coast now, and we seldom get above 85.
"There are a lot of places in California where you don't need AC, and need minimal heating."
We have maybe four or five days a year when we wish we had AC.
Living close to the ocean is nature's air conditioning. Go a few miles inland and the temps rise dramatically.
Wyoming- people drive long distances, usually in a 4x4 PU, to get to work.
North Dakota still has an oil boom of sorts going on. Not sure if the household figures take into account that there are a lot of households that are farms in ND. They use a lot of fuel for their vehicles and equipment but that could be buried under energy costs for the farming business and not as household. Just seems odd for the huge difference.
When you live in big cities or counties, you tend to use a lot more gas than those in the country with short commutes. And large cities in warm climates would mean ppl are outside more often, and usually driving more than those places with substantial snow.
Cost of energy to produce electricity varies significantly in areas.
Electricity to our cabin in northern MN is provided by an electric co-op. 25% of the electricity is from renewable (solar and wind), the rest is fossil fuel. At our residence in the major metropolitan area is provided by Xcel. Generation for our home area is 24% nuclear, 33% solar/wind, 7% "other renewable" (garbage, wood) and 36% fossil fuel. So, 40% is renewable. (Biomass- I believe they used to burn renewable turkey poop, not sure what happened to that shit- the plant closed.)
We only spent 4 days at our cabin in June. No AC- only used electric lights, a ceiling fan and the refrigerator for those 4 days. The electric bill was higher there than the 30 days at home where we have a refrigerator and a freezer running 24/7, lights, central AC (used for several days), ceiling fans, computers, TV, etc., etc.
This factors in motor fuel so I thought the high price of gas and diesel and the size of the state (lots of cars and trucks driving a lot of miles) would drive the monthly usage up.
~Scamp
There are a lot of places in California where you don't need AC, and need minimal heating.
We have a 1,000 Sq ft apartment. We don't have air conditioning. Never gets much above 85. We heat the whole apartment with a small space heater.
I found this kinda interesting. I assumed California would rank much higher on this list.
“Despite the average energy consumption per person trending downward since 2000, energy cost still represents a significant part of American household budgets. This map compares the total monthly energy bills in each of the 50 states.”
“WalletHub calculated each state’s average monthly energy bill by multiplying the average consumption of electricity, natural gas, home heating oil, and motor fuel by their respective prices and adding these amounts together as of June 3, 2024.”
#1 was Wyoming with an average energy cost of $1,591 per month. I’m not surprised about a northern state being #1 due to heating costs but #2, North Dakota was just over half that cost at $840/mo.
Not surprising was Louisiana being ranked #42 at $474/mo but with all the talk about the high cost of living and excessive taxes in California, I was shocked to see California just one spot higher at #41 with an average energy cost of $476 per month.
New Mexico ranked lowest at $376/mo.
See the entire map here: https://ww w.visualcapitalist.co m/mapped-energy-costs-by-state-in-2024/
~Scamp
THIS IS NOT POLITICAL....
THIS POST IS ABOUT COMPANY LAYOFFS....
Reminds me of newspaper companies reducing their print due to the internet.
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CNN is making its first big cutbacks since new CEO Mark Thompson took over last fall, announcing Wednesday that 100 jobs would be cut.
That represents less than 3% of the approximately 3,500 global employees at the network, which has 37 bureaus around the world. Fewer than 1,000 of those employees are based in Atlanta.
In a lengthy memo distributed to employees Wednesday morning, Thompson outlined more details of a plan to focus the network more on its digital product. He first announced his broad intentions in January but has taken his time preparing for a major reorganization of the company’s editorial staff.
"Anytime I come across words 'nobody', 'everybody' etc. I immediately move on."
Yeah, ain't nobody got time for that.
:-)
“… my source is the pump receipts from the several gas stations I stopped at between here and there.”
Gotcha. So it’s more a commentary on the price of gas in different states than evidence that gas prices are higher this year. Which they aren’t.
No angst, I just like to fact check misinformation when I see it.
BTW, based on the recent jobs report and cooling inflation, the fed appears to be ready to drop interest rates, likely in September if the economy continues on its current path. Good news for your daughter DB!
~Scamp
"Why so much angst over me comparing gas prices now, to when I drove to Florida last year?"
Because ppl have grown tired of the real bitching and fake moaning over the president causing gas prices to go up, and groceries, and rent, and the cost of clothes and building materials......
That's all the fuck you guys do. Bitch and moan that the economy is fucked up because of the president.
Where is your proof that that the current prices of anthing are directly related to the president?
You guys never blame the corporations, the stores that sell the goods, or the manufacturer.
Newsflash for ya Bubba, the prices of nothing you buy will go down because the president said so.
When are you going to start blaming or crediting the president for job raises?
Speaking of jobs.... where are all of those coal and factory jobs that were promised in 2016?
It's like the Yogi Berra quote:
"Nobody goes to that restaurant anymore. It's too crowded."
"Nobody can afford to go out to eat. Nobody can afford a car. Nobody can afford gas. Nobody can afford to go to concerts…"
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Anytime I come across words 'nobody', 'everybody' etc. I immediately move on. The absence of comprehending nuance, and lack of critical thinking is all too prevalent, unfortunately.
GOODENUFF
Glad to hear it. My daughter is just starting to home shop. She is comparing buying existing and building new.
Now if only the interest rates would drop again.
"Talk about moving the goalposts, your original comment was that gas prices are up $.40/gallon this year.
Please cite one single source that backs that up."
Why so much angst over me comparing gas prices now, to when I drove to Florida last year?
After all, that is what you asked about
"Will you be taking any vacations this year? I’m pretty sure the price of gas is lower than last year when you drove to Florida, right?"
The simple answer is no. they aren't.
And since you seem to have missed it the first time, my source is the pump receipts from the several gas stations I stopped at between here and there.
exxon down .78%
