Alexis gives us a tour of the Living Energy Farm’s kitchen, which cooks for a dozen or more who live and visit the Farm in northern Virginia. The farm exploits the power generated by solar panels for nearly exclusive DC current to run well-insulated ovens and refrigerators, a blower from passive solar heat, and a workshop with standard power tools used on any farm. The farmers live by the cycle of the varying daylight energy from the sun, and learn to live without it when it’s simply not needed.
4 Comments
Wow! so much rare knowledge dropped in 1 video. Thanks for sharing this interview!
Thanks for sharing… I did not understand the physics behind why the solar powered oven and fridge are energy efficient. Could you share articles or videos explaining it from the basics?
About the system of pumping hot air into the house instead of making heat from electricity. Was it just a tangential example about how to achieve leverage or was it related to how the DC oven works ?
Alexis brought up a few points regarding so-called "green" tech that I've never hear before, but really make sense. Particularly how solar thermal is able to harvest more energy from the sun than photovoltaic, but the reason we don't use these systems is because they are less profitable for the companies that install them.
He also gives battery-based AC systems their due criticism for all the loss along the way. And, how these expensive systems are easily marketed to Americans because we can clear our conscience without altering behavior. Alexis' interview makes me more aware of how much "green sell" is going on in the energy industry today.
Wonderful interview! I'm subscribed for more insightful ones like it.