I'm starting this thread because I seem to think that when it comes to the types of things pointed to in these two messages...

Could biomass help solve the Y2K energy crunch?

Do you think this plan is worthy to mobilize around?

...posted in this forum, what we need is simple and specific as possible directions on how to implement or utlize some of the smaller components of what the related Big Picture is all about.

That is to say that while I'm all in favor of the "realization and implementation of a more enlightened, societal-wide, practical approach to life," I don't have a lot of hope for or faith in society-at-large seeing things that way and having the prerequisite internal "paradigm shifts" necessary to bring about the changes entailed anytime soon. And while y2k may seem like some kind of opportune time to "advance the cause," I'm also not so sure it's a good idea to try to blend the two things together, in terms of things we all should add to our list of things to do, while we're at it.

And by that I mean taking on some kind of "sense of obligation" that says we should somehow strive to "wake society up" (even if that's "just" our community) to the changes we all ought to make in our lifestyles here at the "golden opportunity point" y2k may seem to be for that. Personally, I think that'd be a real good idea. Unfortunately, the majority of the people in my community don't even have Real Clue #1 about just what y2k may actually mean to us all. They're having a hard enough time seeing why they should even think about buying a few candles or extra flashlight batteries. Almost none of them who own small businesses have gotten the idea strongly enough to even look into fixing their computer systems, let alone give any consideration to the idea we should perhaps be thinking about things like emergency contingency plans. Getting them to think about things like that is a monumental challenge all by itself. And for me to even think of trying to convince them they ought to abandon every practical system they're totally enmeshed in (and have been all their lives), and to go the organic/alternative energy route instead (while they're at it), is simply beyond my capacity to imagine having any kind of success with at all. It's a great idea, but the reality seems to be getting the relatively simple and obvious idea of y2k across - to the point where people may be inspired to take action in the direction of preparation - is a more than big enough chore all by itself.

But I do think those of us who don't need a lot of persuading would maybe find some specific directions on how to put together some of those low-cost, "funky" (as Tom Osher put it), alternative systems valuable as can be... Hence this thread.

To provide a specific example of what I mean, here are some directions on how to put together one of the greatest little alternative systems I've ever seen (and used). They come from a friend of mine in Berkeley, California, named Kurt. I used to live on a little farm in northern Minnesota with Kurt, his wife Stephanie, and their daughter, Beth Ann. In the warmer months of the year we used this system to produce one of the greatest technological blessings mankind ever bestowed on itself: Hot Water.

These are the directions for how to build a water heater that uses a little bit of wood to keep that blessing coming. You'll still have to come up with a system to pump the water into the tank and to the shower or tub (or you could gravity feed/drain it into a bathtub in the basement, I suppose) but here's one great, funky, truly inexpensive component for our alternative personal infrastructures.

I always thought Kurt had gotten the plans from Mother Earth News or some such place. But a few months ago I wrote and asked him if he still had them... Here's his reply:

Date: 15 Jan 1998
From: "Kurt Kessner"
Subject: Re: Wood Water Heater

Yo,

I don't know if drawings are necessary. I'm proud to say I made the whole thing up myself. Here are some ramblings that a handy person should be able to use to put the thing together without drawings. If a person isn't handy they're in trouble and don't need to even think about doing it. If they ARE handy, they should be able to figure it out.

• the system requires a GAS water heater. An electric one might work. You'd just need to check out what the bottom looks likes. The reason for this will reveal itself later.

• take or leave the heater outside and remove the gas burner unit from the bottom and discard. The underside of the tank itself will be concave; apparently for scooping the heat. Now, if a person is REAL handy and can use a welder, they could work up a little cylindrical wood burning chamber underneath there with a hinged door but I just simply went to the brick yard, bought some FIRE BRICK (normal ones will crack and break with the heat) and dry stacked them in a semi circle, staggered like building blocks, with a diameter slightly larger than the water heater and then set the sucker (waterheater) on top. Here again you can get fancy and bevel the bricks with your trowel and mortar them together with a nice concrete footing but it all depends on your level of expertise. As you well know, ours worked well enough and we didn't even burn the house down or anything. Which reminds me... That's another reason why the gas water heater is most desirable. It has a chimney that comes up through the center of the tank; perfect for the wood smoke.

• Next, you plumb it up. Cold water feed goes in the bottom, the hot water comes out the top. Use flex copper and flare nuts so the system is flexible for installing replacement units when the old ones burn out. Here again, this is a project for someone with a basic knowledge of plumbing.

• The system of course requires pressure. If you have a well, you have a pressure tank. The trick is to get the pump to work without the grid. If you have a generator-fine. Can you visualize our old pump down there in the pump house? I always pictured that if things went to hell, I could set a bicycle up down there on a frame that held the back wheel slightly off the ground. Then I would take the tire and tube off the back wheel and find a v-belt, perhaps from an old combine or other some such farm machinery, and rig it from the back wheel to the pump flywheel. "Hey, I'll peddle for your shower if you peddle for mine." A ten speed would have provided all the speed and pressure that that old electric motor used to produce.

• In the years that our wood fired heater was in service (not in winters cuz it woulda froze and we had plenty hot water as a by-product of the wood furnace) we burned out one and I installed a second. The 1st one came out of the basement so it didn't cost anything, and the second was free as well. I got it from a plumber or somebody. Anyway, it's burner was broken. A person should be able to pick up truck loads of them with broken burner units for little or nothing. Clean 'em out a bit and a small arm load of seasoned oak will be plenty for 20-40 gallons of STEAMING hot water. Do you remember turning on the hot water and nothing came out cuz it was all LIVE STEAM rising to the ceiling? Ya had to mix a LOT of cold water with that shower, brother!

Oh that reminds me, don't forget the pressure relieve valve. You don't what any steam explosions.

(Copyright Kurt Kessner 1998-1999)

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The thing worked like a charm, was wonderful. So don't forget that steam release valve, and if you have any similar directions, or know their URLs, please either put them in this thread or make a new one and stick it under the corresponding catergory...

Bill

-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), December 01, 1998