Kyle R. Mcallister wrote:
<snip my post regarding home-built passive thermal collectors>
I didn't think it was that bad of an idea, or at least not bad enough to
warrant:
1. No on list response
2. A (very nasty) negative off-list response
Say what?
I didn't send you a negative off-list response! I didn't send anybody
any off-list responses in this thread; in fact I hardly ever send
off-list responses to anything on vortex (except by accident).
In fact, I didn't send _ANY_ response to your post, or a lot of others,
for which I apologize; I've been somewhere between impressed and
overwhelmed by the responses I got to my question about solar energy
collection, and have been very remiss about responding.
Furthermore, I apologize to all to whom I didn't reply; please don't
take my lack of responses as an indication that I thought the ideas were
bad. Just take them as ... well ... a lack of response...
I am serious about looking for an alternative for grid power but at this
point I'm feeling kind of overwhelmed by the amount of work some of the
otherwise most attractive options would require.
Kyle, your idea of a simple thermal collector sounded good, as a matter
of fact. The primary issue I'd have with the suggestion as posted is
that, in our particular situation, I think we've already got the "heat"
base covered (though I have to say splitting logs is a lot harder than I
thought it would be -- G**d*** are we ever a couple of ignorant
city-slickers, as I am learning; someday I may post something about our
first up-close-and-personal encounter with a tipsy poplar, which has
seriously modified our tree-hugging view of living in a woods). The
thing that most concerns me in the event of an extended blackout is the
well pump, for which we need electricity, rather than heat -- and of
course the computers, which also need electricity. The fridge is less
of an issue, as most blackouts happen during cold weather.
OTOH your idea of a thermal reservoir could just as well be used in
conjunction with a Stirling engine and generator to make electricity, or
so I would think -- I don't know how that would compare with solar
cells; might be more durable in the face of ice storms, at the least.
'Course I haven't priced Stirling engines, nor any other heat engine;
Fred Sparber's post, which left me feeling a tad bewildered but appeared
to be suggesting something along these lines, referred to using a scroll
expander engine, about which I know nothing (yet one more thing to check
into...).
Anyhow I'm sorry again for the dead silence, as well as for any apparent
negativity in my replies; I've been very impressed with all the
responses and feel badly about my lack replies.
On the gripping hand, if I were to post a reply to something
sociopolitical, then I would be guaranteed at least an on-list response
calling me an uneducated, imperialistic American.
Does anyone here REALLY want to do something about the energy crisis, or
do you just want to fuck around?
I'm not going to apologize for that either, I am tired of the cheap talk
and 'great promises' of bio-this-and-that and what have you. I make shit
for money, but I put a nice fraction of what I have left over into my
own research. So far I ended up with a fuel-efficient Chevy that the
state took away on a technicality, and not much else besides a lack of
creature comforts compared to others my age. I've seen a lot of strange
stuff, but getting past the "it might be something" point to the "this
is the real deal" point has eluded me, primarily for lack of income, and
moreso, lack of anyone to listen.
So...barely above poverty, putting almost all of my disposable (ha!)
income into research that maybe will do something (on in a billion),
buying the most energy efficient stuff I can find for heat and
electricity because (big surprise to Vortex, I bet) I do care what
happens to our civilization and our planet, trying to help the local
biodiesel guys, trying to help get awareness stirred up in the locals
(some developers too, at this point) about using passive solar
collectors, and that they can be cheap....if that isn't why I am
supposed to be here, I don't know what is.
And if it makes me an uneducated, stupid American, then please bury me
face down when I die, so the world can kiss my ass.
If that is considered a flame, I honestly don't care. I have no faith or
patience left.
--Kyle
