Real life thread

[SteelBird]

Last night we had some major thunderstorms. The power went out before we went to sleep. I woke up and everything was blinking.. I can't stand that.. oh well.

I supposed [power goes out] was a patent of Cambodia. The temperature is reported at peak 37 degree Celsius but I feel like it is 40+ degree and power goes out almost twice a day because EDC (Electric Du Cambodge / Electricity of Cambodia) doesn't produce enough power. Electricity price in Phnom Penh (not the whole country) is currently 820R which translated in US$0.20 per KW. I was thinking of installing some solar panels on the roof of my house. I did a research about solar energy on the web and, sh!t, because the immaturity of the material, solar energy is 5 times more expensive than fossil fuel energy! Consider a set of solar power which is enough just for one TV, one light bulk and an electric fan cost US$485!

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[bd popeye]

Wow that is expensive.

I live in an apartment. Our utilities are included in the rent. That includes electricity, water, steam heat and trash removal. Trust me, most folks in the USA have separate bills for all of that..except trash if you own your own home.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Its cold rainy. My sent is going up another twenty a month. Still comparatively cheap for my area 440 a month all included save cable and phone. Shared bath and kitchen. My last full apartment was 600 a month only heat, trash and water were included. Speaking of which
National grift... I mean Grid is going to turn the power off on thursday to work on the transformer.

 

[Obi Wan Russell]

I consider myself fortunate to be a homeowner, although I did rent bedsits ('studio' apartments!) for fourteen years. Eleve years ago I bought this house and as things stand now it'll finally be mine around the time I retire! I rent out two rooms to lodgers and their combined rent actually covers the mortgage, indeed slightly exceeds it so technically I'm making a profit on the place! Of course like everyone else in the UK I'm being regularly shafted on the cost of utillities (gas, electricity and water) not to mention the price of petrol for my car. If Americans had to pay UK Gasoline prices their would be armed revolution on the streets!

 

[kwaigonegin]

I do not like living here in tornado alley... it seems like EVERY YEAR there will be at least a few nights my fam and I have to hunker down in the basement. Last evening was such a night. Luckily nothing happen BUT there were some pretty serious damage in some parts of the city I live in. I was to move to the coast like Seattle or something.

 

[SteelBird]

I do not like living here in tornado alley... it seems like EVERY YEAR there will be at least a few nights my fam and I have to hunker down in the basement. Last evening was such a night. Luckily nothing happen BUT there were some pretty serious damage in some parts of the city I live in. I was to move to the coast like Seattle or something.

I did watch a few film about destructed area of tornado and I notice most buildings destroyed are made of woods. I just wonder, since people live in tornado alley, they are expected to be hit by tornado every year. Why don't they build stronger buildings that can resist tornado? I understand that their buildings all have basement.

 

[Equation]

I did watch a few film about destructed area of tornado and I notice most buildings destroyed are made of woods. I just wonder, since people live in tornado alley, they are expected to be hit by tornado every year. Why don't they build stronger buildings that can resist tornado? I understand that their buildings all have basement.

Because Oklahoma like many parts in Texas has loose clay soil that is not suited for building basements, it can be done, but very expensive. Wood frame constructions are a standard practice of construction of homes here in America.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Building code in the US differs from state to state and era to era. For example the houses here in the north east tend to be older (I know of one house dating to 1700 just a mile from here) and built for a somewhat snowy winter but mostly rain. As you move west the housing tends to get newer. The biggest building ammo I can think of is likely the post second world war era when returning vets and a amazing growth rate meant that housing was needed fast as it could be built. So timber frame was used and identical houses dominated as time moved on the code changed though and newer houses likely demand steel frames but there older homes were grandfathered as long as they met a set standard. Storm proofing is very very pricey. The materials and technology involved has a high premium. In a tornado a standard two by four can be propelled with enough force to ram through a contentional cinder block wall.

 

[bd popeye]

Because Oklahoma like many parts in Texas has loose clay soil that is not suited for building basements, it can be done, but very expensive. Wood frame constructions are a standard practice of construction of homes here in America.

Very few basements in Southern CA also. Sandy soil and earthquakes. Here In Iowa nearly every single family home has a basement..Good idea.. extra room and a shelter during tornado warnings.

[video=youtube;dwQ8KjerCyw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwQ8KjerCyw[/video]

 

[kwaigonegin]

I did watch a few film about destructed area of tornado and I notice most buildings destroyed are made of woods. I just wonder, since people live in tornado alley, they are expected to be hit by tornado every year. Why don't they build stronger buildings that can resist tornado? I understand that their buildings all have basement.

not necessary.. a lot of the homes destroyed couple weeks ago in OK had no basements. Also a lot of poorer folks live in trailers and if a tornado goes right through them the entire homes are lifted and destroyed. Brick buildings are much more expensive and in some parts of OK the ground is very hard and not easy or expensive to dig deep for the foundation.
Bascially it boils down to economics. People who live in apartments etc also has no basements.