[HillStreetBlues]

On water heating: Masterwhite is correct that natural gas is a lot cheaper than electric. Heat pump water heaters (hybrid water heaters) are very efficient, but still more expensive (at current rates, here) than natural gas. They are a no-brainer in a warm climate where cooling costs are high, probably less so in a colder climate where you are extracting heat from conditioned space that you are paying to heat. Another drawback is that they are extremely loud.

Jon, you are right that electric resistance water heaters are 100% efficient in converting electricity to heat, but the process to turn natural gas into electricity at the generating station is not 100% efficient, and then some amount of electricity (regardless of how it was produced) is lost in transmission. I’m a big fan of electricity (that sounds strange, who’s not), and I think that it can make sense even in our climate and even for heating with super-insulation, but it’s hard to argue that it’s going to be cheaper than natural gas very soon.

I can’t remember who said this, but I always remember reading “Heating with electricity is like cutting chainsaw with butter.” Since some of our electricity is produced from fossil fuels (for now), using such a pure form of power to produce heat is not ideal.

On the bachelors and one bedrooms: initially I thought that your comment was a bit insensitive, Masterwhite. I’ve lived in bachelor and one-bedroom apartments and don’t think I’m “unsavory.” But, actually, it would be nice to see a greater mix of unit sizes, to allow different people and families to live in the neighbourhood.