Rent Price Fixing

Steven Guccione

Landlords use this sort of software (and I presume pay to use it) because it increases rents they collect. So that part of the question is easy. Is this collection and centralizing of data illegal? Well it’s good for landlords, perhaps very good. And bad for renters (perhaps very bad). If you haven’t been involved in renting an apartment in a major US city in recent years you may not realize how abusive it has become.

RealPage Has Been Accused of Price-Fixing Rents. Now It’s on the Offensive

America’s Transit Exceptionalism

Steven Guccione

Whenever I travel, if there is public rail transport I try to take it. Mostly just to have a look. I didn’t realize that the US was actually ahead in public rail until somewhat recently. Of course older cities like Boston, New York and Washington DC have subways, but newer “Sunbelt” cities have relied exclusively on cars. I have a deep suspicion that you can’t be a world class city without good public mass transit. Some cities like Dallas, Phoenix and Atlanta are trying to add rail, but after building out a cars-only city it may be a tough job. From The Urban Condition.

America’s Transit Exceptionalism

Solar Payback

Steven Guccione

My solar testbed has been running for a few months now. In the summer here in Austin I tend to get 700 WH per day, but it does vary. I was wondering what the payback is for my little setup. My panels are just whatever I found on Amazon. Not the best or the worst. Price probably ok at $150.

At 700 WH per day, and using $0.10 per kWH, it comes to about $0.07 per day production. Doesn’t sound like much but thats $25 per year. So I’m looking at about a 6 year payback. Not bad. Of course there are lots of variables. My equipment has a battery, inverter and controller that I’m not including. Also $0.10 per kWH is top tier here in Austin, but that is what we pay. But there are other fees on our power bill that aren’t included, and they are significant these days in Texas. And if you use less electricity the tier and the rate will be lower. Of course the output of the panels will be lower in the winter. But a good ballpark number.