Ask HN: I'm renovating a house, what clever stuff should I build in?

Post by roel_v » Sat, Feb 26, 2011, 5:48 PM UTC

bmelton wrote: post #68

roel_v wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Come on, that's either because you didn't really adapt to induction, or because you had a crap stove. Induction is equally good or better than gas in every aspect but one: - Lower energy use - Induction responds equally fast as gas (i.e, instantaneously) - Standing over an induction stove doesn't get nearly as hot as over a gas stove - Induction is much much much easier to clean. - No need to find matches/lighter (un…

I wouldn't say that's the only disadvantage -- with induction, I'm only cooking if the pan is in contact with the induction element. If I'm tossing a pan, I'm not cooking. I lose the ability to pull a pot slightly above the cooking surface to cool it down to a simmer while still maintaining heat. There's an art to cooking with gas, and being technologically superior doesn't necessarily make it better.

Post by anamax » Sat, Feb 26, 2011, 5:51 PM UTC

smanek wrote: post #58

TobiasCassell wrote: post #53

In the coming years the price of water will change considerably. You probably wont regret installing a rainwater harvesting system. Also, there is a way to finesse the wasted water that goes down the drain in the shower back into your toilet tanks.

There's a (relatively low) upper bound on the price of water based on cost of desalinating water (turning ocean water into drinkable water). It looks like, today, water desalination can be done for about a $1000 per acre-foot, which is only ~40% more expensive than current prices ( http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120053698876396483.html?mod=... ). Granted there aren't desalination plants everywhere - but in the event…

Post by weaksauce » Sat, Feb 26, 2011, 5:53 PM UTC

malandrew wrote: post #65

adrianN wrote: post #15

Put in some proper cable ducts so you don't have to tear up the wall once some new standard is introduced. Put up some solar thermal panels; they last forever and really do work. Look into geothermal, maybe it's worthwhile where you live. But the biggest money saver will be better insulation. You can save up to 70% of your heating/cooling costs by proper insulation.

Make sure the wiring conduits are large because a small conduit can screw up the rating of the cable if you really have to force it through. You should use talcum powder on the cables to easily pull them through the conduits and reduce stress on them. For example, in my house the conduits are tiny and routed at extreme 90 degree angles in places. There's no chance that I'll ever be able to route any decent cable with…

Post by roel_v » Sat, Feb 26, 2011, 5:59 PM UTC

eengstrom wrote: post #80

petervandijck wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, I much prefer cooking gas. Dislike induction.

Serious cook, serious equipment, serious mistake with a ceramic high-output cook top. We did it for the simple reason that my spouse is tired of cleaning up the disaster of a stove after cooking for 12. We considered induction for the home with some of our pets being underfoot/on counters while cooking. Our expensive cook top was tested and branded as copper safe. It is, until water gets between the cook top and the…

Post by AlexMuir » Sat, Feb 26, 2011, 6:25 PM UTC

roel_v wrote: post #17

If I had had more time the last time around, I would have build in a 'secret' vault that is controlled by RFID. I have an RFID chip in my hand and I'd be able to open the vault by waving my hand in front of it. You need to think this through if you want to do it, though - devise a way to unlock it mechanically, make sure it doesn't open when the power is off, etc. More mundane things: - induction cooking plates in yo…