Energy Crisis Solutions

D. W. Brown · 08-25-2008, 09:47 PM

I think the Picken's Plan is a start but I also strongly believe we may need a shotgun approach to fix our energy crisis. I don't think we should rule out such other alternatives like clean coal, solar, nuclear, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, hydrogen, etc.. There are many options out there we just have to put a plan together to utilize a combination of them to help offset our needs.

Psi Brr · 08-26-2008, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D. W. Brown

I think the Picken's Plan is a start but I also strongly believe we may need a shotgun approach to fix our energy crisis. I don't think we should rule out such other alternatives like clean coal, solar, nuclear, geothermal, hydroelectric, biomass, hydrogen, etc.. There are many options out there we just have to put a plan together to utilize a combination of them to help offset our needs.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I heard T. Boone speaking at a conference in Denver at which President CLinton also spoke. It was amazing (to me) to

Hear Pres. Clinton's extremely well thought-out and well laid-out energy plan.
Hear Mr. Pickens express his regrets for the enactment of the 22nd Amendment.

It says a lot for both men who are so dimetrically opposed on the Political scale. I submit there IS hope for the future.

D. W. Brown · 08-26-2008, 08:28 PM

I relocated these two post to their own thread as I think it's worth a real discussion.

Eric Marsh · 08-26-2008, 09:53 PM

Hello - I'm working on my EA memory work and have just joined this forum. This thread interests me because I'm trying to start a community project to create low cost wind generators. This is from my blog at http://ericmarsh.info

"Ever since I moved to our ranch in Lockhart I’ve been thinking about alternative energy sources. One thing we’ve got on our ranch is lots of sunlight and a fair amount of wind too. Solar is expensive - wind not so much so, but it can still cost $10000 or more for enough wind power to run a hot water heater.

I would like to be able to create a low cost wind generator to put this technology in the hands of anyone with some property and some wind. My goal is $1000 per kilowatt. The problem with this is that I simply don’t have the time to develop a system like this myself.

Coming from a software background, I’ve learned to apreciate the open source model and the open source community. I’ve seen open source efforts on hardware as well as software. One good example of a collaborative hardware effort is the MegaSquirt fuel injection system.

So why not create a collaborative effort to develop a low cost wind generator system?

I’ve created a web site with that idea in mind, as well as to discuss the direction that we find ourselves moving towards. It is at http://www.thefutureofhumanity.com. So now my challenge is to build a community.

This should be a fun project and one that can make a difference in the world. Let’s see what happens."

D. W. Brown · 08-28-2008, 12:12 AM

Open source in the software arena has developed some GREAT software products in the past. I think your idea using the same model in this area now is a great idea. Please keep us apprised of your efforts and anything we can do to assist you.

Eric Marsh · 08-29-2008, 12:00 AM

Thanks. Basically anyone who would like to become involved in my little project is welcome to do so. At this point I've just got some forums set up to discuss it or offer some design work(check out http://www.thefutureofhumanity.com/forums. The project is brand new and I need to create critical mass. But it's necessary to start somewhere.

NewYorkCentral · 09-03-2008, 09:50 AM

I have been very interested in Permaculture. Did you know that a compost heap can heat bath water to 90 plus degrees? It involves wrapping hundreds of feet of plastic coil inside a heap of compost. Great for a cabin or camp. My neighbor has a diesel truck that runs on just vegtable oil. It can be done for under $1000 in parts which you can buy between an autoparts store and the hardware store. He told me people are producing their own hydrogen out of water and running on that. What will they think of next.

I am very interested in rainwater harvesting which is another aspect of permaculture. It can be as complicated as underground water tanks or as simple as collecting the water from your gutters in a rainbarrel. I like the idea of putting an 18 gallon tote in the ground and then placing a 14 gallon tote inside of it sitting on some bricks. The 14 gallon is the planter and the 18 gallon collects all the rain water.

Permaculture is the answer. I saw a video where a farmer re-grew the prairie that had long ago disappeared into desert simply by putting ruts in the ground. He pointed out the point where he stopped rutting and that is where the desert started again. They showed swells that were dug to stop the dust bowl effect of the 1930s by FDR that were a beautiful oasis for wildlife and plant all these years later and they have not been touched since they were built. Its just a hole in the ground that slows water as it drains off.

The automobile is not the answer. Trains are the future. It isnt enough to change our fuel source. We have to change our culture and society. Waste must become unacceptable.

MoNs00n · 09-04-2008, 12:13 AM

Being in the process of building a new home here in Arizona
I have done some homework in the solar energy arena.
Solar systems are expensive yes BUT between the federal gov and the state gov and out local electric supplier the cost is cut almost in half.
For a say $20,000.00 system after rebates your cost is around 11,500.00 and running around 4.5 KW to 6.0 KW
enough to run a household of up to 2200 sf.
If your on the grid you would be feeding electricity to the grid all day and would be taking it (not always all of it) at night.
so even though it cost a arm, leg and a few toes(maybe even a pinky) it would pay for itself in less then 15 years then its free juice and good times lol.
This is not a myth its a fact so my question is why do we not implement it on all new construction as to absorb it into the initial cost and make the world a better place ?
ERIC MARSH has some great views on wind as well.
If its clean with a very low impact on our planet why are we still talking and not doing ?

Psi Brr · 09-04-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MoNs00n

If its clean with a very low impact on our planet why are we still talking and not doing ?

Because there are competing lobbies with lots of cha-ching ($$$) to forestall a great number of technological advances until they can profitably make the crossover into the seemingly untapped markets (even though the technology preceded their entry by a decade or two.) Remember what happened to Tucker Automobiles?

And John Galt said, "I will stop the motor of the world." - Ayn Rand

MoNs00n · 09-05-2008, 12:02 AM

Yes I face this issue every day.
I'm sure it will come full circle some day and I just hope that I will still be here to enjoy it.