Comments on: Let There Be Light! http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:26:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Partnersuche Polen http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-48038 Partnersuche Polen Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:55:49 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-48038 Partnersuche polen Partnersuche polen

]]> By: wholesale fragrance http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-30517 wholesale fragrance Sun, 21 Nov 2010 01:21:16 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-30517 Cool and good, there is actually some good points during this post some of my friends might find this relevant, will send them a url, many thanks. Fantatic site! Really good stuff in this case. Thanks Cool and good, there is actually some good points during this post some of my friends might find this relevant, will send them a url, many thanks. Fantatic site! Really good stuff in this case. Thanks

]]> By: jason http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18640 jason Wed, 19 Aug 2009 12:56:47 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18640 Today's (08/19/09) woot is particularly relevant: http://www.woot.com/ Today’s (08/19/09) woot is particularly relevant:

http://www.woot.com/

]]> By: risa http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18639 risa Wed, 19 Aug 2009 03:49:02 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18639 gaiasdaughter- I have been looking for the soap making instructions, but I can't seem to find them. I think it was on www.fao.org but they have sooo much stuff to sift through. It was years ago, maybe it's no longer there. Sorry. gaiasdaughter- I have been looking for the soap making instructions, but I can’t seem to find them. I think it was on http://www.fao.org but they have sooo much stuff to sift through. It was years ago, maybe it’s no longer there. Sorry.

]]> By: Fle in TN http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18638 Fle in TN Wed, 19 Aug 2009 02:55:29 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18638 A little late for the conversation, but... If you have any breathing problems in the household, candles and kerosene can be a killer. Seriously. Try each one out before you have to use it and see. Unfortunately we had to heat with a kerosene heater for a few days one winter and I ended up very ill. We now have the emergency heating thing worked out based on my cr@&&y lungs. A little late for the conversation, but…
If you have any breathing problems in the household, candles and kerosene can be a killer. Seriously. Try each one out before you have to use it and see. Unfortunately we had to heat with a kerosene heater for a few days one winter and I ended up very ill. We now have the emergency heating thing worked out based on my cr@&&y lungs.

]]> By: Ideasinca http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18637 Ideasinca Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:23:20 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18637 Just wanted to echo the recommendation for the BOGO solar-recharged light. They will recharge on very little light and are multi-functional. With their handy hook and high-medium-low settings for both ambient and directed light, they can light a room or a path. After using them for a year in various camping and home-power-loss circumstances, they are by far my first choice, followed by the UCO Candelier candle lantern, which I also really like. Just wanted to echo the recommendation for the BOGO solar-recharged light. They will recharge on very little light and are multi-functional. With their handy hook and high-medium-low settings for both ambient and directed light, they can light a room or a path. After using them for a year in various camping and home-power-loss circumstances, they are by far my first choice, followed by the UCO Candelier candle lantern, which I also really like.

]]> By: NM http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18636 NM Sat, 15 Aug 2009 17:48:19 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18636 The only windows in our house face due east and west, and it's a pain. I very badly want to build a house with passive solar lighting instead (on a different piece of land). The lighting direction is combined with aluminum frame windows from the 1970s, that are very large, and so far we haven't been able to afford to replace the worst ones. So in the summer, we spend a lot of time blocking the light out, to keep the heat out. We also planted large cedar and maple trees in the front yard, because in August, the afternoon sun coming in heated the house so much it was unlivable (we don't have air conditioning). The shade helps a lot ... but now the only light in the house is in the east-facing kitchen, where, on a sunny summer morning, it is blinding. The living room is like a cave. Drives me nuts. I wanted to consider a solar tube, but DH is categorically opposed to knocking holes in the roof (he might have a point, at that). The (small, highly practical) dream house I'm designing in my head has wall sconces with mirrors behind, so I can use homemade candles and lamps without worrying about the cat who enjoys knocking things over. Haven't dared light candles since he joined the household. I also want to try making an olive oil lamp. Have read that you can buy lamp-quality olive oil much cheaper than the good stuff I cook with, although I haven't yet located a source. The information about rendering tallow was interesting. We're vegetarian, so not doing that in the near future, but I could see that becoming important information to have, if/when we all find ourselves living a much lower tech lifestyle. I hope we'll have beeswax, but it never hurts to know about the alternatives. And ghee candles? Never would have thought of that! The only windows in our house face due east and west, and it’s a pain. I very badly want to build a house with passive solar lighting instead (on a different piece of land).
The lighting direction is combined with aluminum frame windows from the 1970s, that are very large, and so far we haven’t been able to afford to replace the worst ones. So in the summer, we spend a lot of time blocking the light out, to keep the heat out.
We also planted large cedar and maple trees in the front yard, because in August, the afternoon sun coming in heated the house so much it was unlivable (we don’t have air conditioning). The shade helps a lot … but now the only light in the house is in the east-facing kitchen, where, on a sunny summer morning, it is blinding. The living room is like a cave. Drives me nuts. I wanted to consider a solar tube, but DH is categorically opposed to knocking holes in the roof (he might have a point, at that).
The (small, highly practical) dream house I’m designing in my head has wall sconces with mirrors behind, so I can use homemade candles and lamps without worrying about the cat who enjoys knocking things over. Haven’t dared light candles since he joined the household. I also want to try making an olive oil lamp. Have read that you can buy lamp-quality olive oil much cheaper than the good stuff I cook with, although I haven’t yet located a source.
The information about rendering tallow was interesting. We’re vegetarian, so not doing that in the near future, but I could see that becoming important information to have, if/when we all find ourselves living a much lower tech lifestyle. I hope we’ll have beeswax, but it never hurts to know about the alternatives. And ghee candles? Never would have thought of that!

]]> By: Peter Shield http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18635 Peter Shield Sat, 15 Aug 2009 16:18:23 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18635 Because we live totally off grid we had to think very carefully about lighting. The first thing we did was watch the light from the windows move around the rooms during the day, then popped our favourite reading chairs where the light is in the early evenings- both our favourite time to read, after a days work and before dinner. Because where the light goes, so follows the heat,and trust me it gets hot here in the Languedoc, we also used that to guide where the bed and kitchen storage went so as to be as cool as possible. The first few years we were without power, so used wind up head torches for reading, and moving about and cooking. Candles to eat by, have to say the romantic side soon wore off, and on sunny days brought the solar lights in. As a previous comment said, mirrors artfully placed can make what ever light you have work so much harder for you. Now we have a 2.8 kw PV system, but despite a virtually unlimited supply of power old habits die hard and we still live with very little lighting, occasionally buring candles we make from the bees wax we scrounge off the bee keeper who keeps her hives on our land. Its a smelly process melting down used combes and sieving out all the bits and peices, but worth it, now we don't need candles, the romance of their soft lighting and the fact we mix in home made essential lavender oil helps keeps teh flies and mozzies at bay. Pete Because we live totally off grid we had to think very carefully about lighting. The first thing we did was watch the light from the windows move around the rooms during the day, then popped our favourite reading chairs where the light is in the early evenings- both our favourite time to read, after a days work and before dinner. Because where the light goes, so follows the heat,and trust me it gets hot here in the Languedoc, we also used that to guide where the bed and kitchen storage went so as to be as cool as possible.

The first few years we were without power, so used wind up head torches for reading, and moving about and cooking. Candles to eat by, have to say the romantic side soon wore off, and on sunny days brought the solar lights in.
As a previous comment said, mirrors artfully placed can make what ever light you have work so much harder for you.

Now we have a 2.8 kw PV system, but despite a virtually unlimited supply of power old habits die hard and we still live with very little lighting, occasionally buring candles we make from the bees wax we scrounge off the bee keeper who keeps her hives on our land. Its a smelly process melting down used combes and sieving out all the bits and peices, but worth it, now we don’t need candles, the romance of their soft lighting and the fact we mix in home made essential lavender oil helps keeps teh flies and mozzies at bay.

Pete

]]> By: Janet http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18634 Janet Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:10:51 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18634 I have learned a lot from the comments, thanks. Does anyone have advice on where to buy solar items such as the solar lantern or a solar recharger that recharges batteries (for flashlights)? I like the idea of using outside solar lighting for inside - and will be watching for sales soon. I have learned a lot from the comments, thanks. Does anyone have advice on where to buy solar items such as the solar lantern or a solar recharger that recharges batteries (for flashlights)? I like the idea of using outside solar lighting for inside – and will be watching for sales soon.

]]> By: Segue http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/comment-page-1/#comment-18633 Segue Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:43:29 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2009/08/13/let-there-be-light/#comment-18633 I don't see an analysis (admittedly more difficult) of the life cycles of these various technologies. Grid Electricity requires tremendous infrastructure and there are inherent losses in the system vs. Kerosene or Propane which must be distributed. An electric light that is mounted in the ceiling serves only that room, while a kerosene lamp might be carried by the person from room to room, always lighting what must be lit. Therefore, one kerosene lantern could replace 10 lighting fixtures. It's really all how you look at it and somebody maybe has the time to take a closer look at this. I'm not saying I have a preference of one over another, except to say that using fewer lighting sources and taking advantage of the sun's natural light as much as possible is the only clear winner in this debate. Improving building design is key, as there are many many buildings which RELY on artificial light to provide sufficient lighting. This needs to be changed, and building codes removed or relaxed that currently discourage good energy-efficient design (of which there are more than a few, despite their claims to the contrary). I don’t see an analysis (admittedly more difficult) of the life cycles of these various technologies. Grid Electricity requires tremendous infrastructure and there are inherent losses in the system vs. Kerosene or Propane which must be distributed. An electric light that is mounted in the ceiling serves only that room, while a kerosene lamp might be carried by the person from room to room, always lighting what must be lit. Therefore, one kerosene lantern could replace 10 lighting fixtures. It’s really all how you look at it and somebody maybe has the time to take a closer look at this.

I’m not saying I have a preference of one over another, except to say that using fewer lighting sources and taking advantage of the sun’s natural light as much as possible is the only clear winner in this debate. Improving building design is key, as there are many many buildings which RELY on artificial light to provide sufficient lighting. This needs to be changed, and building codes removed or relaxed that currently discourage good energy-efficient design (of which there are more than a few, despite their claims to the contrary).

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