Encouraging sustainable practices may require building consensus for effective change rather than individual actions.
Considering financial incentives and rebates can help make sustainable choices more affordable and impactful.
Deep dives
The Office Sustainability Initiative
A Reddit user in a large office is concerned about single-use items like styrofoam cups and plastic utensils piling up in the wrong recycling bins. She puts up signs encouraging reusable mug use, but HR keeps taking them down. Judges deem her actions not as effective as building a broader consensus for change.
The Green Home Dilemma
A listener debates replacing a broken gas boiler with an electric heat pump for a significant cost difference. While she values sustainability, the steep price gap poses a financial challenge. The panel agrees she is not the asshole for considering the cheaper option and suggests exploring financial incentives and rebates to make the switch more affordable.
Have you ever wondered if you were on the right side of an argument about climate change? Or just want to understand what everyday climate battles are worth fighting? A panel of expert climate judges take on the infamous Reddit thread ‘Am I The A**hole’ to issue judgments on climate-themed dilemmas. Along the way, we debate the ethics of roommate spats, office politics, baby showers and personal finances.
Better understand how much electricity the various appliances in your home are using. Check out this electricity calculator, to tell you how much electricity you’re using and how much it will cost you depending on where you are within the U.S.
If you're in the market for a new heat pump, check out this Forbes article to get a better understanding of cost.
Check out this video from This Old House to understand how heat pumps work.
This episode was produced by Janae Morris. The rest of our reporting and producing team includes Anna Ladd, Kendra Pierre-Louis, Rachel Waldholz, and Daniel Ackerman. Our supervising producer is Matt Shilts. Our editor is Caitlin Kenney. Our intern is Janae Morris. Sound design and mixing by Hansdale Hsu with original music by Peter Leonard and Emma Munger. Our fact checker for this episode is James Gaines. Special thx to Climate ethicist William Lynn. Thanks to all of you for listening. See you next week!