The Off Grid Guide - Part 5 | Energy

Time Stamps:

00:00 Intro
00:00 Modern Energy Issues
11:30 Biogas: Digesters & Methane
21:55 Solar: PV, Hot Water, Passive Heating, Cooking
39:13 Biomass: Rocket Mass Heaters, CHP & Woodstoves

Modern Energy Systems: Issues and Solutions

Our reliance on electricity is growing, making the stability and efficiency of the power grid crucial. However, today's energy grid faces significant challenges that impact convenience, economy, security, and the environment. Understanding these issues is essential for fostering change.

High Energy Costs 💸
Financial Burden on Households
High energy costs place a significant burden on families, especially those with lower incomes. In 2020, Americans spent $1 trillion on energy, averaging over $3,000 per person. Rising costs will further strain households as they pay for heating, cooling, and commuting.

Economic Implications
These high costs increase the price of goods and services, affecting inflation and economic stability.

Inefficiency and Waste 🗑️
Generation, Transmission, and Distribution
Energy systems lose substantial amounts of energy during generation and distribution, contributing to both costs and waste. Reducing energy needs and producing locally can mitigate these losses.

Aging Infrastructure 🏚️
Vulnerabilities
Aging energy grid infrastructure is prone to disruptions, leading to outages and economic losses. Events like California’s brownouts and Texas’s winter storm failures highlight these vulnerabilities.

Fossil Fuel Dependency and Corporate Control ⛽🏢
Environmental and Social Impact
Heavy reliance on fossil fuels results in environmental degradation and health issues like pollution and smog. Major energy corporations often prioritize profits over people and the planet.

Corporate Control
A few large corporations dominate the energy sector, influencing policies, prices, and technology adoption. This centralization is linked to the military-industrial complex, burdening taxpayers. Reducing reliance on these companies can help reduce costs.

Centralized Control and Security Concerns 🛡️
Security Risks
Centralized grids are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and sabotage. As AI and cyber threats grow, a fragile grid poses greater risks.

Lack of Resilience
Energy systems struggle with extreme weather, leading to failures that affect multiple sectors like healthcare, transportation, and food supply.

Environmental Impact 🌳
Pollution and Health
Dependence on fossil fuels harms the environment and public health due to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The current food system's reliance on cheap fuel further complicates this issue.

Unsustainability and Limited Accessibility 🔄
Finite Resources
Non-renewable energy sources are limited, making a transition to renewable energy urgent.

Inequality in Access
Energy access disparities are pronounced in rural and underserved communities, limiting economic opportunities and exacerbating inequalities.

Barriers to Renewable Adoption and Innovation 🚧
Slow Transition
Despite the need, the shift to renewable energy is slow due to technological, regulatory, and economic barriers. Building local skills and community strength can drive faster change.

Regulatory Hurdles
Complex regulations often protect established interests, hindering the adoption of new technologies. Building a parallel economy can help bypass these barriers.

Grid Congestion and Demand Fluctuation ⚡
Load Management
Electricity demand varies throughout the day, causing grid congestion and inefficiencies. Effective load management and storage are crucial for off-grid setups.

Geopolitical Dependencies 🌍
National Security
Reliance on energy imports makes regions vulnerable to geopolitical instability. Achieving energy independence is crucial for both national and household security.

Path Forward 🛤️
Modernization and Sustainability
Investing in modernizing micro-grids, integrating renewables, and adopting alternative energy sources like biomass and biogas is essential for a resilient future.

Conclusion 🎬
Despite the challenges, advancements in renewable energy and decentralized systems offer hope for a sustainable and affordable energy future. Understanding these issues is the first step toward meaningful change.

Action Steps:

Research renewable energy options like HomeBioGas systems.
Consider installing renewable systems, even in urban or suburban settings.
Start community initiatives to share resources and knowledge about sustainable practices.

[BrandonBasinger-sn]

As a 20 year educator I must say that you, young man, have a natural gift for teaching. Your pace, delivery, methods of providing diverse sources of information combined with real world application that relate to the audience you're presenting information to are perfect. I've been absolutely engaged through every episode and thoroughly enjoyed the absolutely massive amount of new knowledge I've gained from them. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world in such an engaging manner. Please keep up the good work!

[logantauson]

I would have said this at video one but became to enthralled. This is absolutely amazing work & the generosity of you sharing this is beyond measure. I know for me personally as one who is determined to live my life in service of nature & live in a healthy home; this has outlined a pathway beyond hope of making it happen . Thank you so much!

[LorenzoJensen-ss]

I loved this video! Well done introducing me to alternative energy systems, especially for the ones that require a lot of energy like heating. A lot to think about and research- again, great overview!

[femmefuntime]

Nuclear is actually better than oil.
It’s safer, cleaner, and more efficient than anything else rn (relative to megawatt hours produced and megawatt hours per gram of fuel)
Honestly you get MORE ambient radiation around coal burning plants than you do around nuclear plants

[HUNdAntae]

Also consider using energy without converting it or converting it to a lower tech level. If you have a workshop, most of your power tools use a spinning MOVEMENT so you're probably better off with a pneumatic system and using your solar energy or even steam (!) If you have plenty biomass to burn to charge a pressuized tank. It's far more easy to maintain a low tech system than a high tech one.

[SeekingBeautifulDesign]

FYI:
1. Methane powered ICE vehicles are mainstream in taxi and delivery fleets. Toronto is an example. You can go to a gas station and fill up with methane.
2. Methane leaks are a huge global warming issue from industrial systems maintained by professionals. Home systems tend to be neglected, so methane digesters may actually contribute to global warming depending on maintenance...a downfall in many homes and permaculture designs.
3. Research on indoor air quality and health has people switching away from indoor gas burning even it was free. Electric cooking inductive or even better via pressure with cheap solar and batteries probsbly simpler and safer than indoor gas.

[jerskitty]

Would coppicing a few trees be enough to supply wood for rocket mass heaters in tiny houses or earth ships for a year? Option two: could you use fast growing bamboo or hemp in place of trees if there is a large fire in your area that has temporarily knocked out the wood option?

[jerskitty]

Do they make larger methane producers for times when you need more than two hours for canning or cooking down lard or tallo or can the solar ovens handle that?

[yvonnehyatt]

Can use underground bunker to keep food cool .

[petekooshian]

It seems like the northern climates (like Michigan where it's both cloudy AND cold) is the real challenge

[yvonnehyatt]

Please send this video to Valuetainment thanks

[BrandonBasinger-sn]

I do have a question that I've been waiting to see if it was addressed after watching more videos. I it possible or inadvisable to utilize the same tin roof areas for combined rainwater collection and solar panels? From what I've seen the solar panels seem to be slightly raise above the tin roof itself, so it's made me wonder about that possibility. Or does the presence of solar panels reduce the ability to utilize that particular roof for rain water collection?

[michaelpeterson]

Im in a cool temperate climate much of the year. I have not found a good way of keeping a digester warm enough to work. Now im wondering if I could somehow do it with solar heated water. I wonder if i could get the consistent temp needed.

[HUNdAntae]

So the way i see it, it's not really liquid fertiliser if i can't use it in the garden only in an orchard. I prefer NOT having black water at all. If you don't have large animals that produce an excessive amount of manure, you're better off actually composting. Plus it requires water. Plusplus, when you all done with it, you end up with a whole lot of liquid AND solid black waste, you just fermented it, if i see it correctly. Please correct me if im wrong.

[SeekingBeautifulDesign]

Your solar and battery research is about 5 years old. Consumer available solar before shipping is 25 cents/watt (not even the bulk price). LFP batteries (most popular form of lithium ion. You were referencing problems with old NMC li ion tech) just don't explode or burn and are so cheap and long lasting that lead acid aren't economical off grid or anywhere. LFP lasting 5x or longer, only having to buy 1/2 as many, also being recyclable likely makes them the ethical choice. Yes lead is the most recycled metal in the US, but LFP so long lasting that we won't see a need for 10-20 years, and LFP recycling already cheaper than mining lithium. All the energy going into to constantly recycling short life lead batteries makes them less attractive vs a better, cheaper and longer lasting LFP.