Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 153 posts

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#51

Post by laweijfmvo »

ice3 wrote: post #6

Installed solar power last year and an air source heat pump. My pellet burner is still going to be the main source of heat/hot water though. Got pellets at the start of the year (with only 80% premium over last year, now the prices are 3x of what they used to be ), have wood to offset use of pellets and even some coal [just in case]. Replaced every bulb with LEDs from IKEA. Set all rooms in the house to 18-19 c. Goin…

20c is incredibly warm. As a broke college kid living on the east coast we kept the furnace at 55F (13C) all winter. Wear a jacket. Double socks. Drink warm beverages. Get up and do some push-ups. If you’re reasonably young and healthy, you’ll survive.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#52

Post by dougmwne »

out_of_protocol wrote: post #33

If you plan to use electric heater, switch to AC - regular heater or whatever have efficiency of mere 100%, while AC is a heat pump and can transfer heat at 200-500+% efficiency

This is quite good advice. The trick that that the portable AC units most people have in EU require an open window for the vent tube and create a positive or negative pressure which can push all your savings right out the window. If you have a split wall unit with a heat exchanger outside then you are in good shape.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#53

Post by senko »

In the process of installing roof solar (which I would've done this or next year even if the energy prices didn't spike).

Also, expect to allocate larger budget for gas & electricity bill. I do expect the govt. to cushion the blow for consumers tho, so I'd be surprised if my bill ended up 600% up, but it won't break the bank.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#54

Post by BurningPenguin »

I'm not that worried. My flat is heated by a gas heater, that is supplied by a tank somewhere outside. That thing only has to be filled up occasionally (idk how often, maybe once a year or so?), so i'm usually just paying for the price the landlady paid for it. Also, my flat is properly insulated and loses very little heat.

Power might be a bit of a problem. I don't think it's going to go out, of course, because my little corner of Germany is connected to a bunch of hydro and solar power plants and there is the nuclear power plant "Isar" only a 100 km from here, which probably will be running if things go bad. But it's the price i'm worried about. There is some legislation coming up, that may help with that, though.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#56

Post by teekert »

me_me_me wrote: post #44
teekert wrote: post #28

My country (Netherlands) has 80% of it's gas supplies ready to go if I can trust the news. I have just moved into a poorly insulated house but I'm not too worried. We can always move into our caravan which we can heat on 600W if really necessary but you know, perhaps some thermo underwear? I already always had the temp at 19 deg C so 17-18 should be ok with a blanket on the couch? In bed I don't mind 10 deg C. So far…

There is some hope for gas prices, as other countries are steeping in to replace russias' (hopefully permanently)

The Netherlands is sitting on a big gas field [0], but we were in the process of winding down production because of houses getting damaged in the area. A time will come when production will be ramped up again I think, perhaps when it has become economic to just compensate all damages.

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groningen_gas_field

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#58

Post by giuliomagnifico »

I don’t (in Italy). Since I’m a bit forward looking and exactly one years ago (August 2021) I switched my electrical and gas contracts to fixed prices (for 4 years, another 3). So I’m paying the same as one year ago. Obviously I’m always thinking about saving for others, but I don’t necessarily need it!

Funny thing is that one year ago always was saying me “a fixed price will cost you more, font do it”. Now I’m laughing, there were all the signals of the rising of energy prices.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#59

Post by qwerpy »

dewey wrote: post #38
wschfdkbrmcdf wrote: post #4

It's not too late to invest in mining and energy extraction equities - many are still highly underpriced before the major funds roll into the sector

I'm sure that will keep you warm.

Barring a sudden, total collapse, money is the best prep once you have the basics covered.

Re: Ask HN: How do I/you prep for the energy crisis in EU?

#60

Post by dougmwne »

dijit wrote: post #50
out_of_protocol wrote: post #33

If you plan to use electric heater, switch to AC - regular heater or whatever have efficiency of mere 100%, while AC is a heat pump and can transfer heat at 200-500+% efficiency

Could you elaborate a little on this? I have a free-standing air-conditioner that I got because temperatures hit records this year, are you saying I should put the cold side of it outside and pipe the tube into my home? Split A/C units (like ceiling mounted ones) are uncommon in most of Northern Europe residential buildings..

Unfortunately those free standing units create a pressure differential and you will see all your hot air pushed outside. The split units use a fluid line to the outside to exchange temperature, so you would need one of those.
Post reply on HN