Updates for the Week of 2/24/2019

Energy Lecture for the Week: Geothermal Energy

https://upload.cat/b9c5ee0e1e3b4699

(I had difficulties uploading the above video to youtube, I found a different website to host the video. There are several seconds of advertisement before the video.)

Cloud cover can now be controlled by using geoengineering. Moisture laden air masses can be dried up by over spraying them with condensation forming particulates. Hence, intermittent solar energy production due to passing clouds isn't as big a problem as we thought.

In regards to passive house design. Vacuum panel insulation could be used in the construction of houses, thereby bringing down the amount of heat loss to or heat entry from the environment. This isn't as difficult as it appears, many modern homes already make extensive use of vacuum panels in the form of double pane windows:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulated_glazing

Vacuum panels are already used as insulation. They have a much lower thermal conductivity when compared to traditional insulation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_insulated_panel#Thermal_performance

We could further lower the thermal conductivity by covering the surfaces of the panel with materials similar to those used in the former space shuttle:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_thermal_protection_system

There is another more hypothetical way to build an insulated housing structure.We could construct a building made of two shells, an outer shell and and inner shell. The two shells would be constructed as to not touch. The inner shell would be supported by making contact with the outer shell at the door and window frames.

Another idea would be to support the inner shell using cone shaped supports. The base of the cone could be attached to the surface of the inner shell and the tip of the cone would make contact with the outer shell. The tip of the cones could be rounded so as to the reduce the pressure exerted on the outer shell. Since the area that would be in contact with the outer shell would be small the heat transfer would also be small.

Once the inner shell is supported most of the air between the shells could be pumped out. To insure the outer or inner shells don't crack or break due to the massive amount of force from the air pushing on their surfaces, the surfaces of the shells could have I-beams continuously welded around their surfaces.
By doing this we greatly restrict the surfaces through which heat could flow into the residence or out of the residence thereby providing nearly perfect insulation.

There is another possibly more practical way to use vacuum insulation, as structural components. So, instead of using wooden structural frame members like wooden 2 by 4s to support a structure, instead a large vacuum panel, would be used. Different sized vacuum panels, ranging from 10 feet by 20 feet and smaller could be used to construct the complete structural support of a dwelling. The edges that could allow heat transfer could be buried into the foundation, walls, and floors.

Yet another way would be to create vacuum panels with vertical edges open to the atmosphere. When the building is constructed all the vertical edges are joined together. The horizontal edges are buried in the ground or in the space between two floors for maximum insulation. Then all the open vertical edges are welded together so as to create strong structural members AND and an air tight seal. Then all the air is pumped out of the welded and sealed vacuum panels.

If vacuum panels could be constructed into the shapes with holes to allow for windows and doors, then the edges that allow heat transfer would be smaller than using vacuum panels of a standard size and shape.

All this and more can be done,.............it can all be done,.............amigo.

Climate Engineering Lecture for the Week: (Nothing's Gonna Be Alright)

Nothing's Gonna Be Alright, Dante's Inferno Update

Capitalism vs. Socialism Lecture for the Week:

Meteorology Lecture for the Week: The Imperfect Forecast

Ecology Lecture for the Week: The Ecological Consequences of Agriculture

Mae Brussell Archive for the Week: Mae Brussell Archive for the week of 10/13/71

http://www.worldwatchers.info/shows/dialogue-assassination-71-10-13/

Phil Hendrie Show for the Week: July 30, 2001

https://www.philhendrieshow.com/ph_episode/monday-july-30-2001-2/

Hour 1:
“Eating In Church” Roland Schwinn says the Catholic church has “butchered up” the self image of millions of fat and happy people because they won’t let him eat in church.

Hour 2:
“I Euthanized My Wife” Alf joins the program to discuss the sad misfortune he faced with being forced to euthanize his wife, a victim of severe pain. Alf claims she died with dignity.

 
Hour 3:
Ted Bell kicked off [hour 3 to] discuss NASCAR. He said that NASCAR threw the Pepsi 400 at Daytona so that Dale Earnhardt Jr. could win. The fans were just too stupid to realize it.