Best Barry Cinnamon Podcasts (2024)

1
Earth Day … So What? 25:57

4d ago25:57

25:57

It’s not a flippant comment or a classic jazz solo — but an existential question about the devastating trend our civilization is on due to climate change.The history of Earth Day shows how the worldwide environmental movement has evolved from concerns about in-your-face air and water pollution … to a focus on the invisible hazard of rising CO2 emis…

1
Seismic Changes in the Solar and Storage Industry - Part 2 25:27

10d ago25:27

25:27

Welcome back to Part 2 of our interview with Scott Sullivan, my friend and one of the best networked executives in the industry. Earthquake excitement has diminished in the New Jersey area, but seismic changes in solar continue around the country. In Part 1 we discussed what happens in the solar and storage industry — really every industry — when c…

1
Seismic Changes in the Solar & Storage Industry 32:52

18d ago32:52

32:52

Seismic changes in the solar and storage industry? Who would have thought that our friends in New Jersey would relate so viscerally? Their recent 4.8 magnitude quake in early April literally extended this metaphor across the country.Metaphors aside, the solar and storage industry is changing faster now than I have ever seen:* Electric rates are soa…

1
Installing Solar In The Big City 31:44

26d ago31:44

31:44

March isn't just about shamrocks and leprechauns; it's also Women's History Month, highlighting the incredible contributions of women in various fields. But have you ever wondered about their role in the energy transition? In general, women are just as involved as men — not just in solar, but also in batteries, hydrogen, policy-making, electrificat…

1
Questions to Ask Before Installing Solar 45:40

1M ago45:40

45:40

The Learning Curve for understanding home batteries and solar systems is steep. Your battery system education will require mastering at least twice as much jargon, TLAs (that’s Three Letter Acronyms), specifications and industry gossip than ordinary solar systems. So if you don’t want to get bamboozled by an aggressive salesperson, this week’s podc…

1
What To Do When Your Solar Installer Goes Out of Business 32:43

1M ago32:43

32:43

The Utility Empire is striking back. As a result, the rooftop solar industry is experiencing its first decline in growth ever. In California alone the end of Net Metering has resulted in an 80% drop in rooftop installations and 17,000 job losses among passionate Rebel solar installers. Utilities in other states are following California’s lead, leve…

1
Why Is Solar Taking Over The World? 21:23

2M ago21:23

21:23

This week we’re talking about World Domination. Domination of energy production, that is. In the re-scrambled words of the wise and infamous Dr. Evil: “Why make Gigawatts when we can make…Terrawatts!”Indeed, solar is on track to completely dominate electricity generation. Solar is growing faster than wind, nuclear and LNG ever did. Alternatives to …

1
No Such Thing as Free Lunch or Free Solar 21:15

3M ago21:15

21:15

If you’re thinking about solar there’s something important you should know. It should be obvious, but just in case: there is no such thing as Free Solar.Getting solar — or a battery -- installed on your house is not cheap and certainly not free. These projects are significant construction and electrical improvements. No company will install solar o…

1
Which Solar Panels Should I Buy? 32:05

3M ago32:05

32:05

It’s no surprise that this is the most common question, since the solar panels themselves are the biggest cost component of a typical rooftop system.But I’m not going to give you the single "Best Panel" answer you may be looking for. Sorry.With over 100 companies making solar panels worldwide — and vast differences in efficiency, aesthetics and rel…

1
Blame California Politicians for the 28% Electric Rate Increases on 1/1/2024 11:00

4M ago11:00

11:00

As in year’s past, we in California greet the New Year with yet another electric rate increase. It’s almost impossible to believe this time — but on January 1, 2024, PG&E raised electric rates by another 28.4% according to the San Jose Mercury News.Just follow the money. Since 2017, Utilities and the IBEW spent over $111 million on politicians and …

1
10 Home Energy Predictions for 2024 24:02

4M ago24:02

24:02

I’ve added electrification predictions for 2024 to my customary set of solar and storage predictions. Electrification incentives in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) are already starting to drive demand for heat pumps and electrical upgrades, just as tax credits accelerated the solar and EV markets in the past.So here I go again sticking my neck ou…

1
What You Need to Know About Heat Pump Water Heaters 26:32

4M ago26:32

26:32

It’s not a matter of IF your hot water heater dies – but WHEN. According to the Department of Energy, the average lifespan of a hot water heater is 13 years. So if your hot water heater is over ten years old – or if you’re planning to electrify your home -- the time to PLAN for a Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) is NOW.Heat pump water heaters have bec…

1
COP28 Realities - Now We're Really Screwed 19:56

4M ago19:56

19:56

The goal to cap global warming to 1.5C is just a pipe dream. At the rate the earth is warming we’ll hit that threshold in 2026 or sooner. And since our consumption of fossil fuels continues to increase without any meaningful reductions of airborne CO2 concentrations, we are on pace to hit 3C by 2035.It doesn’t take a doctor to diagnose the illness:…

1
I'm Electrifying! How do I upgrade My Solar System? 26:03

5M ago26:03

26:03

When you electrify your home – with a heat pump HVAC system, EV charger, induction cooktopor heat pump water heater – your demand for electricity will go up. Duh. Or as Tim Allen wouldsay: “I need more power.”Incentives as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) help reduce the upfront costs of theseelectrification upgrades. But the only way to r…

1
EV Charging with Tom McCalmont 11:27

5M ago11:27

11:27

By 2035 all new cars in California will be electric. It’s an achievable goal based on lower operating costs and rapid price declines for new EVs. But the current per kwh costs of EV charging continue to increase -- and we continue to be woefully short of necessary EV charging infrastructure.I predict a massive backlash against expensive and inconve…

1
Inside Scoop About Heat Pumps for Your House 26:30

6M ago26:30

26:30

Inside Scoop About Heat Pump HVAC SystemsIf you can answer these three basic questions, then don’t bother listening to this podcast. The questions are tricky, so if you're the least bit uncertain I suggest you listen to this week's riveting Energy Show episode.How can a heat pump be 300% efficient?Are gas furnaces still the most popular new heating…

1
Electrical Upgrades for Home Electrification 9:28

6M ago9:28

9:28

There is one thing for certain as you electrify your house. You’ll need more electricity. Duh!But getting more electricity from the street to your house is not easy. Bizarrely, it often takes longer to do these electrical upgrades than it does to install your new all electric appliances.When — not if -- your old gas hot water heater dies, you don’t…

1
IRA Incentives What's Really Available Today? 18:16

7M ago18:16

18:16

The Inflation Reduction Act, or IRA, became law in August 2022. It's packed with incentives across the entire value chain, including domestic manufacturing, energy-efficient products, and clean saving energy.But these fantastic incentives do not yet match the realities of what you can get today for your electrification project. The table below show…

1
How To Select The Best Home Battery 19:45

7M ago19:45

19:45

Batteries were everywhere at September’s RE+ Conference in Vegas. I counted over 100 different battery company and system vendors. It was more of a battery and solar tracker show than a solar show — demonstrating the rapid evolution of these clean energy technologies.But out of a hundred batteries on the show floor, there are only half a dozen that…

1
54% of New Electricity Is From Solar - You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet 28:17

7M ago28:17

28:17

Proving the solar skeptics wrong, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) now expects that utilities will add 54.5 Gigawatts of solar generation capacity in 2023. And this capacity does not include 6.4 Gw of residential installations and 1.7 Gw of commercial installations expected in 2023.SIDEBAR: a Gigawatt is a billion watts of power. In…

1
Solar and Storage Under New California Electric Rates 7:19

8M ago7:19

7:19

HEADLINE: Higher Electric Rates and More BlackoutsUnfortunately, this is the new normal for most of the U.S. In other words: SNAFUThis situation will not change. It’s a little-known fact that utilities use our money to influence politicians to maintain their monopoly. To the tune of $18m in California just in 2022. Government regulators are suppose…

1
Biggest Electrification Roadblock is Your Utility 17:27

10M ago17:27

17:27

Our society is moving rapidly towards electrification. Building electrification is good for the climate, good for our health, and good for our economy. We’ll all be using more electricity — it’s inevitable. Luckily, using all this extra electricity for our heating and our cars is inexpensive when you get it from rooftop solar and storage.But utilit…

1
DIY Home Electrification Measures 7:13

11M ago7:13

7:13

On this week’s show we’re talking about the first steps toward your home electrification project. What I call the Low Hanging Fruit. These are easy and cheap energy efficiency measures — most of which you can do yourself (DIY) or do not require any special contractors.Many people recommend starting with an energy audit of your home. However, unless…

1
Heat Pump Systems with Dennis Stinson of Fujitsu 33:34

11M ago33:34

33:34

More heat pumps were sold in 2022 than gas furnaces. And that was before the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) kicked in, which provides an $8,000 rebate for most heat pump installations — on top of a $2,000 federal tax credit and city/county incentives that can exceed $3,000.Heat pumps are cleaner, more efficient and less expensive than most conventio…

1
Getting Started with Home Electrification 4:56

11M ago4:56

4:56

How would you like to reduce your home energy costs, improve your health and comfort, and at the same time do your part to improve the environment?If your answer is “yes,” then listen to this week’s Energy Show episode. If your answer is “no,” then maybe you don’t need your share of the $10,000-$40,000 incentives that are available for your home.Th…

1
Lessons Learned Installing Battery Storage Systems 1:42:36

1y ago1:42:36

1:42:36

Batteries are becoming an essential part of home solar systems. With solar-connected batteries, homeowners can avoid paying peak utility electricity charges. Batteries can provide backup power during blackouts. And if you’re in California, after net metering ends in April 2023, you will need batteries to avoid peak electric rates.In the old days, a…

1
What's an Atmospheric River.. and Why Should I Care 12:49

1+ y ago12:49

12:49

According to Wikipedia -- which has supplanted the Oxford English Dictionary and Encyclopedia Brittanica as the world’s definitive source of information -- an Atmospheric River consists of narrow bands of enhanced water vapor winds that form over the oceans.In plain English, Atmospheric Rivers are windy rainstorms that dump a huge amount of water i…

1
Fusion Power Breakthrough...Really? 16:38

1+ y ago16:38

16:38

Fusion Power Breakthrough...Really? by Barry CinnamonBy Barry Cinnamon

1
Probably True Solar Stories 38:19

1+ y ago38:19

38:19

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonOver the years I’ve heard thousands of stories about people, companies and products in the solar industry. Fascinating to a solar geek like me, but too much in the weeds for most homeowners.As the solar and storage industry goes mainstream, we need to communicate to customers in a more mainstream way.…

1
Smart Environmental Policy 29:12

1+ y ago29:12

29:12

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonEntrepreneurs are the job engine in the United States. Many of the companies founded by today’s entrepreneurs have products or services addressing environmental needs. New technologies almost always gain traction through the work of stubborn entrepreneurs, including solar, wind, electric vehicles and …

1
Vampire Electric Loads in Your Home 22:09

1+ y ago22:09

22:09

We’re talking about VAMPIRES on this week’s show — vampire electric loads.It’s Halloween season, and these little energy suckers are insidious. I guarantee that you have dozens of little devices plugged into your home that are using a small amount of standby power, sucking energy all day and night. It really adds up, and causes nightmares for energ…

1
Best Run Solar Companies 34:15

1+ y ago34:15

34:15

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonThe best run solar companies I know are those that focus on a geographic region, and grow slowly and steadily. As with most other construction businesses, local companies generally understand their local markets better and have lower overhead — enabling them to provide better customer service at lower…

1
Gas Stations Are Cheaper Than Public EV Charging 30:22

1+ y ago30:22

30:22

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonAdoption of EVs will hit a brick wall when people realize how ridiculously expensive it is to charge EVs at work or at public charging stations. And these charging costs will continue to go up as the price of grid electricity skyrockets.Electric utilities have rigged the system for EV charging infrast…

1
Solar for Commercial Buildings 17:06

1+ y ago17:06

17:06

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonEvery time I fly into a city the glare from bright white commercial rooftops screams out to me “I need solar panels.” It is a little known fact that the 30% solar investment tax credit coupled with 20%+ depreciation benefits makes commercial rooftop solar the most cost-effective way of supporting loca…

1
Solutions to California's Power Problems 27:11

1+ y ago27:11

27:11

copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonMr. Burns of Simpson’s fame — the personification of utility greed and political power — is happily rubbing his hands together as California roasts in the dark. And this situation will get much worse in the coming years.First, there is insufficient power during heat waves. Even with large solar and wi…

1
Use the Savings from the IRA to Maximize your IRA! 34:53

1+ y ago34:53

34:53

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonI was recently a guest on the Rob Black Show. Rob is a popular TV, radio and podcast financial expert. So in a twist, we talk about leveraging the savings from the Inflation Reduction Act to maximize your Individual Retirement Account.There’s been lots of news coverage about homeowner’s saving money f…

1
The Inflation Reduction Act 33:48

1+ y ago33:48

33:48

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonThis week’s Energy Show podcast is about the IRA. Even if you’re retired or Irish, the inaptly-named Inflation Reduction Act is the most important legislation for clean tech ever. We’ll talk about the big picture of U.S. energy generation and use, and then delve into how much homeowners can save with …

1
Global Warming – We’re Screwed 20:28

1+ y ago20:28

20:28

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonWhen it comes to global warming – we’re screwed. I’m telling it like it is so we don’t continue misleading ourselves that we are on a path to reduce global warming.We have had 20+ years of climate activism; many Inconvenient Truths; wildfires, floods, droughts, blackouts; and now energy wars. Still, t…

1
Community Solar with Crystal Huang 32:26

2y ago32:26

32:26

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonThere are two types of solar customers: people with sunny roofs and people without sunny roofs. Just as every home had a chimney (before heat pumps), there is no doubt in my mind that every home will eventually have solar.But what about the people without sunny rooftops, such as apartment dwellers and…

1
Best Ways to Compare EVs 18:29

2y ago18:29

18:29

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonBuying an EV is complicated. The market is dynamic, so brand loyalty doesn’t mean much yet. There are huge differences in mileage, range, charging and price. Often the EVs that are in the highest demand are backordered — sometimes for a year or more (just try buying a Ford F-150 Lightning). Heck, just…

1
Five Tips to Maximize Your Battery Storage Savings 21:53

2y ago21:53

21:53

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonIf you’re like me you installed a battery storage system to preserve in solid form all that Ben and Jerry’s ice cream in your freezer during a blackout. My wife, on the other hand, just wanted to save money. Her financial priority is ultimately what is driving the demand for battery backup installatio…

1
Direct Air Capture of CO2 - Panacea or Pandora's Box 20:35

2y ago20:35

20:35

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonAt the start of the Industrial Age the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere was 280 parts per million (ppm). Now the concentration is over 420 ppm. This increase in CO2 levels was caused by burning fossil fuels -- coal, oil, gasoline and natural gas. High concentrations of atmospheric CO2 are the pr…

1
Talking Solar and Storage on the Rob Black Show 26:42

2y ago26:42

26:42

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonRob Black has been a popular TV, radio, and podcast personality for more than twenty-five years. Not only do I love his daily radio show on KDOW and and Bay Area TV, he also recently installed a rooftop solar and battery storage system on his home.I had the pleasure of joining Rob on one of his recent…

1
Ten Clean Energy Myths 24:55

2y ago24:55

24:55

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonClean energy has come a long way since the first water wheel, windmill and solar cell. Solar, wind and battery systems are steadily replacing fossil fuels because they are both cleaner AND cheaper. For simple business reasons, the superior economics of wind and solar generation are steadily supplantin…

1
Don't Tax the Sun 14:24

2y ago14:24

14:24

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonThis week’s Energy Show is a special Public Service Announcement for the “Don’t Tax the Sun Rally” in SF and LA on June 2nd.It’s a Call to Arms — with solar panels and screw guns. All solar customers — and anyone interested in solar — should attend. As well as the 68,000 solar workers in California.If…

1
How Much Heat Can A Heat Pump Pump? 21:48

2y ago21:48

21:48

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonHow much heat could a heat pump heat if a heat pump could pump heat? Technically, the answer is about 3.“Heat pump.” What a dumb, geeky name for what is arguably the most important climate modification device known to man. Heat pumps are really just refrigerators operating in reverse. Spelling-wise th…

1
How many solar panels needed to electrify my home 18:19

2y ago18:19

18:19

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonStop burning fossil fuels and electrify everything. That’s the path that humanity must follow to avoid a global warming calamity.Two technological changes have made it both practical and economical to transition to an (almost) all electric economy. First, heat pumps, EVs and induction cooking are now …

1
U.N. Climate Change Report – We’re Screwed 17:38

2y ago17:38

17:38

Some of you may have read excerpts from the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report. Candidly, I didn’t. Even the summaries were indecipherable. Which is probably a good thing since there is only one shred of good news in the whole report. More on that at the end.The report — indeed, the entire process — has been depressing. We have…

1
Which Solar Panels Should I Buy? 25:17

2y ago25:17

25:17

Copyright 2020 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonThe most common question people ask about rooftop solar is: “What solar panels should I buy.” Unlike buying a car — which people do every 5 or 10 years — people buy solar panels only a few times in their life. But unlike cars, the “best” solar panel on the market at any given time typically changes ev…

1
Energy Prices are Going Through the Roof 24:12

2y ago24:12

24:12

Copyright 2022 - The Energy Show, Barry CinnamonRibbit or Croak. Which one are you?An urban myth has it that if you put a frog in a pot of boiling water it will instantly leap out. But if you put it in a pot filled with pleasantly tepid water and gradually heat it, the frog will remain in the water until it boils to death.This myth reminds me of th…

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