LETTERS: Electric heat the best

To the editor:

In response to my extolling the advantages of electric heat and the writer saying it needs lots of insulation, those days are over. With the new super types of insulation the homes don’t even need to be [retro-fitted] to accept base board electric heating. Remember electric heat is safe, clean and quiet.

As to the writer’s reference to heat pumps, just a little background. Heat pumps were first introduced in the south and primarily for air conditioning. As the technology improved they decided to try heat pumps in the north. Even with the new improvements, the manufacturers and the engineers have said if temps go to 0-degrees or colder, they suggest back up heat, and the experts at heat pump suggested baseboard electric heat, and roughly most of the northern states have laws or codes requiring a heating backup system installed with heat pumps.

Also, as a retired electrical contractor/engineer and nuclear advocate, it should be noted that solar panels are not biodegradable and they will wear out. My fervent hope and prayer is that we harness nuclear fission and then we will be able to sustain the massive loads for electricity coming our way.

Frank Slason
Somerville