I Refuse to Debate With Climate Change Deniers
I’m Planning My Future Instead
Two years ago, I decided to walk away from the climate change debate.
I no longer debate the facts with unbelievers. I share information with likeminded people instead. Of course, I remain concerned for my granddaughter’s future, but I don’t waste time debating the issue. Those who won’t work with me are an impediment to progress. I intend to take the detour around their roadblocks.
I’ve moved on.
I’m now preparing for what’s to come. If there’s no consensus and thus little action, then I best figure out how to take care of myself when the going gets rough. Frankly, it’s always boiled down to taking care of myself. Americans don’t encourage a culture of sharing ideas and resources.
We’re all about the individual, so I’m turning my attention to my own needs.
Fortunately, I’m pretty good at taking care of myself, too. I’ve already shared with my Medium readers a number of lifestyle changes that I’ve implemented, simple ways to keep my household functioning during rolling blackouts or in the aftermath of severe storms. Here’s my most recent article on the topic of self-reliance.
Research, personal experience, trial and error, and a willingness to adapt are essential to my progress. I no longer procrastinate. It’s encouraging to see the progress I’ve made in the last two years.
I’m now trying to determine how best to keep warm in the winter.
If I can keep my pipes from freezing, I think I can manage. We live in the upper Midwest so our winters can be cold at times. Not like when I lived in Maine for 32 years, but still cold enough to warrant a backup plan.
Fortunately, we’ve had lots of experience with backup heat.
We owned five acres of wooded property in Maine and used a wood stove back in the day to heat our whole home for several years until we could upgrade to an oil furnace.
So, one area we’re exploring is wood heat — again.
We have a lovely fireplace in our 1970s home, but a fireplace isn’t a very efficient means of heating a home. About 90% of the heat goes up the chimney. So, we’re considering a wood-burning insert. They’ve been greatly improved upon and must meet 2020 EPA standards, so that’s a step in the right direction.
My house is roughly 1700 square feet.
The way it’s designed, I should be able to heat my family room, bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom with a fireplace insert. That leaves two other bedrooms and a large living room/dining room area that might get chilly, but at least there’s no water pipes in those rooms.
The heated rooms are where we spend most of our time even when we have power.
I own a battery power station that keeps my chest freezer and fridge running. I also have my house fitted with light bulbs that remain charged for up to six hours after the power goes out. I can then recharge them with my power station. I own a gas stove, so cooking on the stovetop burners is fine. I can recharge my phones with the power station, too.
A big concern is cost.
I will be consulting with a professional next week. While I’m at it, I’m also meeting the following week with a company that installs standby generators that tap into the gas lines to my home. This is an expensive solution, around $10,000, so it would be a last choice, although a convenient one.
My final option at this point is to purchase another power station, a bigger one, and set it up to run my furnace.
That would require a professional electrician and a transfer switch. Could be costly but maybe not as expensive as the standby gas generator. Of course, it would be necessary to charge my new power station every other day or so. I have a gas inverter generator for that, and my power station recharges in less than two hours.
I’m going to purchase portable solar panels to charge my power station on sunny days.
One step at a time, you know. With continuing research, I find myself leaning toward the fireplace insert, but we shall see. It’s a challenge. Ultimately, I’d love to use solar power. I can use it to recharge my power station, but, of course, that’s a far cry from relying on solar year-round. It’s just not an option for me currently. Hopefully, down the road, creative people will come up with affordable and innovative options.
Thankfully, I’m only trying to find a solution to the heating problem during emergencies which are still infrequent but are on the rise.
In the meantime, the world depends on creative people to solve big problems. The unbelievers and the naysayers always slow down the change process, at least until new ideas become normalized.
Yeah, people hate change so much that they’d rather complain. They’ll refuse to cooperate even if it kills them.
So, there you have it. I’m too busy to fight with the unbelievers. They do nothing to help, and I’ve never changed a single closed mind. So, it’s just me. You’re welcome to come along for the ride.
Oh, and if you’ve stumbled across innovative solutions, please share.
There’s a lot going on out there, and I’d love to hear your ideas. Let’s ignore those who have nothing to offer.
They’ll be begging for our help soon enough.
Teresa is a retired educator, author, world traveler, and professional myth buster. You can find her books on Amazon.
