I think this is the beginnings of an economy based on perpetual growth and fossil fuel energy running headlong into geological energy constraints. Basically I see an undulatory downward path for the rest of my life. From here out, I think any rallies in our economic condition are going to be met with spiking commodity prices that knock us right back down.
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6976 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 6:10 pm Post subject: [Shelter] Heat - General
[Preps] Got heat?
So it’s the middle of the winter and your power/gas quits - for whatever reason.
Do you have an alternate method of heating your home, cooking your food, heating your water? Safely?
Ever here the one about the first time parachutist whose chute fails to open? As he is going down he passes a guy going up trailing smoke. He asks the guy, “Know anything about parachutes?”
The guy going up replies, “No- you know anything about Coleman stoves?” _________________ Make a plan and work it:
Last edited by Pops on Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:38 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:22 pm Post subject: No need to die of cold
Of course a good iron wood cook stove and a soapstone freestanding wood heater would be ideal, provided you have good chimneys and a nice (dry) wood pile.
But in a pinch and as an inexpensive way to keep from becomming a popcicle, consider the right clothing. First of all, thinsilate underwear (longjohns); next heavy wool socks; then a good wool sweater; then "skisuit" which can be either the Wallmart variety of green insulated overalls or the LL Bean expensive goose down ski suit type. A good hat that can cover the ears or a ski mask are also good. Insulated boots (yes you can sleep with your boots on) . Then you should have a good goose down comforter. And don't forget good warm golves, not the designer stuff you might use for your race car, but the good warm designed to keep your fingers from frostbite type gloves.
Even a simple heat source in your house can cut the icy chill, and even being inside a reasonably insulated house will cut the wind chill. A candle or a kerosene lamp, or even better a kerosene heater might make the difference during an extreme night. Of course it is a bitch to make a bathroom call considering that withoug heat your plumbing will be gone. So a frostbitten butt is a story to tell your grandchildren.
I am sure that many will freeze, but this is not necessary with a few simple preparations.
Joined: Jun 26, 2004 Posts: 1191 Location: Madison,Wisconsin
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 1:54 am Post subject:
While my current housing is appartments, so of course i would be screwed, when i actually do get to do what i want and build my own home, the entire home would be based of the idea of using as little power as possible to heat and cool it. Heck designing a home with heating and cooling in mind makes it So much easier. Just situating the house right saves you probably 25 percent of your heating and cooling costs. Ever hear of passive solar heating? I had one for the water heater on the home i was born in installed in the early 70s. That sucker kept our heating bill down for years, and this is using old school tech. More modern ones are even more effcient. Than just heating your water though is one thing, radient heating in the floors of your house is entirely another. My home will definately be incorperating that tech. The final step though is one i love just because it is so beautiful to have a masonary stove in the center of your home. Fire it once or twice a day, and your home will never be cold. Not one of these requires a bit of power, the radient heating if designed right can rotate simply on gravity, maybe a bit of electrity, but thats where the solar and wind power on site come in. :D
Unfortunately, alcohol, while making the imbiber feel warm actually speeds up the cooling down of the body. This is bad news for me i'm afraid. However, wrapping myself up in tinfoil and newspapers might let me hold out a little longer.
Joined: May 17, 2004 Posts: 1969 Location: Democratic People's Republic of Washington
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:13 am Post subject:
Well, I have a Kerosene heater that I use as a regular source of heat instead of the house's electic heater, but I suppose that this would not be a viable option with no Kerosene available. I have 6 gallons of lamp oil, so I would have light at night for quite a while, but that would not really help with the heating situation much. _________________ Here Lies the United States Of America.
Joined: Apr 03, 2004 Posts: 6976 Location: My Grandkids' Farm
Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:40 pm Post subject:
(Kiddie I guestion the to you is, got A/C? lol)
Don’t forget the old charcoal bbq for cooking – outside of course. Charcoal is cheap and lasts forever if you keep it dry. An inexpensive, small tabletop gas (bottled propane) grill is great for picnics and blackouts; the fuel is easily stored and relatively safe. Small backpack stoves are great if you can make use of them otherwise.
You can heat water by partially filling a doubled black garbage bag (one bag inside another), and placing in the sun. You do have a couple big rolls of garbage bags don’t you? They have a hundred uses. Of course you also need several boxes of kitchen matches or disposable lighters – buy them in the big 5 or 10 packs and they’re cheaper.
An oil lamp puts off a surprising amount of heat, but you should learn how to use one before you need it and never leave it burning unattended.
Close off unused rooms and hang blankets (if you have any left) over windows at night and north windows all the time. Stop those drafts if you have leaky windows with clear plastic and duct tape (see DHS is worth something after all).
And don’t forget cuddling – very important!
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I hope to start thinning the small <2 acres of woods on the new place this fall and plan to have around 10 eventually. We were finally able to buy the Vermont Castings wood stove we’ve wanted forever and that should heat the downstairs nicely. I really want the Todd wood cook stove but I’m not sure that will happen right now. A 200-gallon propane tank will provide a measure of independence as long as I can afford to keep it filled. I believe some of the walls on the old place are insulated but that will be a first priority (along with all the others) along with tightening up the old double hung windows. Surprisingly, the new shop is fully insulated and plumbed for in-floor heat! Ye-Haw! _________________ Make a plan and work it:
As far as heat is concerned, we have hot muggy Summers, but we also can get some REALLY cold spells in winter. I've been checking into growing bamboo, which will give us shade in the Summer; it is very fast-growing, and sustainable since the plant does not die when you harvest it. Burning it as firewood (properly dried and cut - since it tends to explode otherwise!) might be an option, but I can't find out whether it could be burned in a regular wood-burning stove or not. I wonder if anyone else knows anything about this?
Bamboo can also be used in cooking, in making paper, cloth, and musical instruments (as well as housebuilding) ...a very versatile plant!
I live in the South where it's warm near year round. But it does get cold at times in the winter. I have a heat pump which is very efficient, but blows air only slightly warmer than the room you're in. So if it's 60 indoors it will blow 62 degree air at you.
This makes heating in winter kind of odd. I turn the heat off completely at night. My house is well insulated but it gets down to the upper 40s sometimes in the morning. Makes it kind of hard to get out of bed, but it won't kill you. Other than that I have the heat come on before I come home from work so it's a toasty 62 or so.
Basically what I'm saying is turning the thermostat way down won't kill you. There's no reason at all to have heat on at night unless you're worried about pipes freezing.
Actually I live in Memphis, Tennessee, so as I said, keeping cool is the major concern, but we're really at the mercy of the jet stream here, and if it dips too far south in wintertime we can get VERY cold temps. here if even just for a few days at a time. I've been through the freezing pipes scenario a couple of times. I'm really in love with the idea of bamboo to heat one's house and cook with when it's cold, even if it is just for a few days at a time. I don't mind the cold personally (I'm originally from Northern England), I just dress more warmly, but I'd like to avoid its effects on my house. Once natural gas runs out, we'll be at the mercy of the elements for both heating & cooking.
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