Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: Idea for keeping warm after PO
For those of us who rely on electric, gas, or fuel oil heat, it may indeed one day be a reality that the supplies run out when we need them most. I can just see the frost forming on my eyebrows while the temperature in my house heads below freezing.
It seems that the typical response is to burn anything and everything in an attempt to stay warm. This leads to house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc.
I had an interesting thought about a possible solution the other day. What if you were to purchase warm sleeping bags and a good tent for indoor use. There are many sleeping bags that are rated to sub-zero temps. The tent could also act as an insulator to keep your body heat from escaping. Compared to the alternatives, it seems like not such a bad idea.
Anyone have any ideas about why this would not work?
Joined: Aug 04, 2005 Posts: 421 Location: Traded the man in front of the tank for a cat playing the banjo
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
one_more_day wrote:
For those of us who rely on electric, gas, or fuel oil heat, it may indeed one day be a reality that the supplies run out when we need them most. I can just see the frost forming on my eyebrows while the temperature in my house heads below freezing.
It seems that the typical response is to burn anything and everything in an attempt to stay warm. This leads to house fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, etc.
I had an interesting thought about a possible solution the other day. What if you were to purchase warm sleeping bags and a good tent for indoor use. There are many sleeping bags that are rated to sub-zero temps. The tent could also act as an insulator to keep your body heat from escaping. Compared to the alternatives, it seems like not such a bad idea.
Anyone have any ideas about why this would not work?
It seems like worthwhile investment to me.
I was thinking about that also, in fact my idea was to hyper insulate some area.
But check this out, I think its cool. _________________ When someone interprets as derogatory almost anything that is said about him (or about groups with whom he identifies) we conclude that he has inferiority feelings or low self-esteem.
Joined: Sep 29, 2004 Posts: 2330 Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:14 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
Drain out any water in any pipes if you're going to do that. If you have any money to spend, spend it on sealing up your house, it makes good sense anyway. _________________ "That's the problem with mercy, kid... It just ain't professional" - Fast Eddie, The Color of Money
Joined: Nov 03, 2007 Posts: 195 Location: cascadia
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
one_more_day wrote:
Anyone have any ideas about why this would not work?
Nope. I've been using a sleeping bag under the covers when it gets cold, and it helps. On the other hand, it rarely gets below freezing here, I'm just a lightweight.
I wonder if the tent idea was one reason why they used to make 4 poster bed frames?
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 2:48 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
Kingcoal wrote:
If you have any money to spend, spend it on sealing up your house, it makes good sense anyway.
I already did that this fall and cut my Nat. gas use by about 60%. The tent and sleeping bags were going to be an extra layer in addition to that. Where I live we have at least a few weeks every winter of -5 to -20 weather (fahrenheit). If the supplies ran low, I'd need something more than a well insulated house.
I'm not thinking of this as a long term solution, but rather as short term response to an emergency supply interruption. If supplies did not resume at some level in a few weeks/months, then I would probably have to reconsider my plans.
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
Using a good sleeping bag has been discussed before on this forum and others. This quote is from an article on Preparing for Peak Oil on a Limited Budget.
Quote:
A good sleeping bag is a survival must and first on my list of survival/peak oil equipment. For a one time expense of $400 or less, you never have to worry about electric heat, wood heat, gas heat, or where you are going to sleep. The sleeping bag is lightweight, will last a lifetime if cared for, and easily transportable. If you trust me and buy a sleeping bag, buy a synthetic bag, not a down bag. Synthetic bags keep you warm even when wet, down bags don’t. Always buy a bag with a temperature rating at least 15 degrees colder than your average winters. In my opinion, you should buy a synthetic bag rated down to minus 20 or 25 degrees (trust me). Here are some good dealers in cheap synthetic sleeping bags - "Cheaper than Dirt" and "High Peak." I recently bought three synthetic sleeping bags rated down to -20 degrees for $60 each. I can survive anywhere now. Have bag, will travel.
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:23 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
The sleeping bag is a good idea, I have one in my emergency kit.
It's good to recall that the eskimos lived in the artic without any fuel except for a limited amount of whale blubber. It's possible to stay warm even in those conditions but you have to be smart about conserving body heat.
A sleeping bag plus, say, 50W of electric blanket should keep anyone plenty cooked even in severe cold.
Joined: Nov 20, 2006 Posts: 120 Location: Tasmania
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 3:39 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
Yes, four poster beds with heavy draperies were designed to keep in the warm and keep out draughts, but also for privacy and to keep plaster and insects etc dropping down from damp ceilings.
the best idea is to either go for the tent, or to try and heat the smallest room in your house, making sure it has been insulated as much as possible. You could also, for instance, decide to sleep under a heavy table with cartons of books piled up around the sides - that would be a small space that would heat up pretty quick, esp if you piled in your cats and dogs as well.
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
my suggestion,move somewhere where it doesn't get so cold.
it only gets down to -5 degrees in SE england,so if i had to go without heating i would just wear a coat indoors and rap a duvet around me.
i may have to do that sooner than others as we use heating oil for the central heating _________________ If everybody became a vegan, peak oil will not be a problem,nor will global warming,deforestation,water shortages,expensive food,famine etc.
Why am I having visions of a band of Post-Peak marauders, led by Jack, dog-running through the snow at dusk, towards a small village, AK's or the like in hand, clothed in those Selk Bags (coloured in white of course)?. _________________ "That the cream cannot help but always rise up to the top, well I say, <censored by peakoil.com> floats"
Jarvis Cocker - "Running the World"
Last edited by Judgie on Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:06 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
sirrom wrote:
it only gets down to -5 degrees in SE england,so if i had to go without heating i would just wear a coat indoors and rap a duvet around me.
i may have to do that sooner than others as we use heating oil for the central heating
A good subzero sleeping bag might be a good investment if you ever lack heating. Quality thermal underwear could be good too - long-johns and a thermal vest. My thermal vest is warmer than a pullover.
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
Judgie wrote:
Why am I having visions of a band of Post-Peak marauders, led by Jack, dog-running through the snow at dusk, towards a small village, AK's or the like in hand, clothed in those Selk Bags (coloured in white of course)?.
Jacks group would only be there to decimate the village and as such might attack in the evening.
We kinder gentler marauders prefer to mount our plunder raids between 3-5AM as it is better for catching people off guard and avoiding unnecessary bloodshed. But if they keep up on the tribute then they can rest easily...
Seriously though the sleeping bag would be fine for keeping you warm (I've slept out in a good one at -20F) but if its down to that then your house is going to suffer. bursting pipes and that sort of thing...
-G _________________ All right, you primitive screw-heads, listen up!
Joined: May 13, 2007 Posts: 601 Location: Athabasca, Alberta
Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: Idea for keeping warm after PO
one_more_day wrote:
I had an interesting thought about a possible solution the other day. What if you were to purchase warm sleeping bags and a good tent for indoor use. There are many sleeping bags that are rated to sub-zero temps. The tent could also act as an insulator to keep your body heat from escaping. Compared to the alternatives, it seems like not such a bad idea.
Anyone have any ideas about why this would not work?
It seems like worthwhile investment to me.
The Cree First Nation use a tent within a tent to keep warm in subzero temperatures. _________________ Appuis ait fabrum esse suae quemque fortunae.
Alias Redneck
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