Global warming hysteria is taking its toll on the poor and elderly. Biofuels have raised the cost of food, and green regulations have made electricity prices skyrocket. Without fossil fuels, tens of millions would have frozen this winter in the US, and we would all starve. Every tree would be cut down. The air would be filthy from the smoke of burning wood.
Greens are the useful idiots of Malthusians.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlTxGHn4sH4]
America or Australia would look like this without fossil fuels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRrrPNEdlNE
My local stores sold out of thermal underwear this year. The combination of extreme cold and high propane prices caused many of my neighbors to bundle up in their own homes. I have not heard of any fatalities in the county, but everyone is looking forward to Spring after one of the longest and coldest a Winters on record, and in memory.
We never turned the central heat on this year except once. We only turn it on when the house gets below 40°F (so pipes don’t freeze) other wise we use a space heater in the room we are in. This despite January getting as low as 1°F and half the days in the single digits or teens. BRRRrrrrr.
I kept my thermostat at 48 for most of this Winter. I built my home 12 years ago to be very efficient, and most of my heating needs for the house this Winter were met through 2 space heaters. I am far more conservation minded than 97% of all alarmists. 😉
We are considering putting in Geothermal since it will both heat and cool. I finally got another tractor(1972 vintage) now we have to rebuild my mini-backhoe and we can start work on it.
I also plan to go geothermal. I have the acreage, have access to a trencher, and should be able to install it myself. My goal is get off the grid.
I hear you. I want to be as self sufficient as possible. We all ready have the goats and sheep. I am working on a garden and greenhouse next.
I am working on raised beds made out of concrete block three high with cattle panels on the top to keep all the critters out. Something like this: http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/goats/190409-tarp-cattle-panel-shelter-pics-eric.html
Cattle panels used to be $16 now they are up to $20. Panels are 16 ft. L x 50 in. H so two panels give you an 8ft long by 10ft wide green house if you use the blocks. By using the concrete block with rebar driven next to the outer walls I can get plenty of head room. The nice thing about the cattle panels is you can tie strings for your beans to grow on. Toss bird netting over it…
It is a heck of a lot cheaper than a real greenhouse kit $300 &^ and a lot more versatile since you can add on very easily. (I am not cementing the blocks.)