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Giving Up Alternating Current
An anonymous reader writes: Yesterday we discussed Soylent, the artificial food substitute created by Rob Rhinehart and his team. As it turns out, this isn't Rhinehart's only unusual sustainability project. In a new post, he explains how he gave up on alternating current — a tough proposition for anyone living in the U.S. and still interested in using all sorts of modern technology. Rhinehart says, "Most power in the US is generated by burning coal, immediately squandering 67% of its energy, then run through a steam turbine, losing another 50%, then sent across transmission lines, losing another 5%, then to charge a DC device like a cell phone another 50% is lost in conversion. This means for 100 watts of coal or oil burned my phone gets a mere 16."
The biggest hindrance was the kitchen. As you might expect for the creator of Soylent, he doesn't cook, and was able to get rid of almost all kitchen appliances because of that. He uses a butane stove for hot beverages. He powers a small computer off batteries, which get their energy from solar panels. For intensive tasks, he remotes to more powerful machines. He re-wired his apartment's LED lighting to run off direct current. Have any of you made similar changes? How much of an effect does this really have?
The biggest hindrance was the kitchen. As you might expect for the creator of Soylent, he doesn't cook, and was able to get rid of almost all kitchen appliances because of that. He uses a butane stove for hot beverages. He powers a small computer off batteries, which get their energy from solar panels. For intensive tasks, he remotes to more powerful machines. He re-wired his apartment's LED lighting to run off direct current. Have any of you made similar changes? How much of an effect does this really have?
Shouldn't it be powered by his sense of self importance? Or at least by PEOPLE!!
No birthday cakes, no cherry pies, no fresh baked bread, no roast pork with caramelized potatoes, no steaks, no cauliflower broccoli cheese casserole, not even any homemade French onion soup? I shudder to think what Julia Child would say to that.
saying "Excellent".
Mimetics Inc. Twitter
Meanwhile, Nicola Tesla is doing a giant facepalm.
On an aside - this is the last time I check /. The site has become nothing more than clickbait. Even the Yahoo tech section is better.
Meanwhile, Nikola Tesla is spinning in his grave (probably at about 120hz).
No. I have a wife.
Gah. That's *exactly* what I was thinking. Also that he has a very reduced chance of transmitting his DNA to the next generation...
"I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
It's a real shame this guy hasn't found a generator that can run off of his sense of self satisfaction. It would end his energy problems forever.
I read the internet for the articles.
I was waiting to read about how AC kills and see some good ole electric chair demonstrations.. *sigh*
-The wise argue that there are few absolutes, the fool argues that there are no probabilities.