6 ms·

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 t

by roel_v 16y ago

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 your kitchen. That's a no-brainer. - Ethernet to a few places, but don't fuss about it. The jacks will never be where you need them, anyway. Instead, make sure you have a solid backplane so that you can put wifi repeaters on each floor. - Floor heating, as mentioned above. No-brainer too. - For optimal living comfort, thick insulation. 10cm (4") of PUR at the least, preferably 16 (6"). Make the house air tight. Put in a ventilation system, preferable with active intake and exhaust, with heat recuperation (it's called 'System D' here, don't know if that's international). Also, put in an easter egg for the next person remodeling the house. Write a message on an inner wall that you drywall over, put a waterproof sealed envelope with some pictures of you and your family in a false ceiling, those type of things. It's awesome to discover one of those (I once did).

JCB_K 16y ago
I wouldn't say induction cooking is a no-brainer, not everybody likes it. I rather cook on a gas stove.
- lachyg 16y ago
  I would go induction any day of the week, incredibly handy.
- petervandijck 16y ago
  Agreed, I much prefer cooking gas. Dislike induction.
  - eengstrom 16y ago
    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 copper pan. Also found that the rapid heat generated by an utterly imprecise dial control system could damage cookware, so I now tend to bring them to temp in two stages. I would definitely go with gas if the line is already brought into the kitchen and available. You can obtain Fogor induction cook tops and try them out and take them back if they don't work. Same mechanic as a full scale range. Make sure you do a double oven and if you can afford it, install a micro hood with a real vent outside the house - or your attic goods will smell like bacon in perpetuity.
    - roel_v 16y ago
      Are you talking about induction or ceramic? They're totally different, ceramic is crap, don't get that - it's only barely better than a 'regular' electric plate. There's no comparing the ease of use between the two - it's just that the look roughly similar from a distance, that's where the similarities end.
      - eengstrom 16y ago
        From my first sentence: serious mistake with a ceramic high-output cook top We did not go with the induction, I should have run gas. I did, however, test pretty extensively with induction. Even in the $6,000 range I wasn't pleased with the results in testing.
- roel_v 16y ago
  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 (unless you get a gas stove with build-in ignition) - No need to put in separate gas piping - Safer: never having to worry about children turning on the gas, or accidentally turning it on e.g. by bumping into it with a pot - Pots are on the stove in a much more stable position, both safer and easier to use. - Induction comes with build-in timers to turn off the heat for a pot (maybe some gas stoves have this, but then only the very expensive ones - I've never seen an induction plate that didn't have it). Only disadvantage is that not all pots work on it (i.e., you need pots with iron in it, aluminum won't work).
  - Heimy 16y ago
    It still wouldn't call it a no-brainer just because of the "only disadvantage" that you mention. I'd have to throw away half of my pots (including a beautiful tagine)
    - roel_v 16y ago
      When you're spending $1500 on an induction plate, or $20k on a proper kitchen, the $250 to get some new pots isn't going to make the difference. And yes you can get induction tajines, Tefal has one for example. You use that one to cook in and the other one to look at.
  - qjz 16y ago
    Note that portable single "burner" induction cooktops are available at under $100 for anyone who wants to investigate the technology before committing to it. It will remain a useful appliance, whatever your preference (warming plate, at-table presentations, cooking on the porch, etc.).
    - chopsueyar 16y ago
dirkgadsden 16y ago
Totally air-tight houses can be a danger as well; in my home (which is old and "breathes"), a heater once malfunctioned; when I noticed the malfunction (black accumulant around the vents) and called a technician to come check it out, the technician said that if the house had been air-tight I would likely be either severely hospitalized or dead, so sometimes a little non-air-tightness can be good, especially since it encourages you to open the windows and doors and get some fresh air instead of relying on the air conditioner all year round.
- adestefan 16y ago
  A home that can breath is also more comfortable. It keeps moisture in check and helps with stale air transfer.
  - roel_v 16y ago
    No it's not! That was thought 30 years ago, but building technology has advanced. Ventilation needs to be controlled. Having cracks and leaking windows is very inefficient in keeping an optimal indoor climate, not to mention very energy inefficient. An airtight, very well insulated house with active ventilation (an indoor climate control system, not to be confused with airco) is the best way to get an optimal indoor living climate all year round.
    - adestefan 16y ago
      I wasn't talking about leaking windows. You can't seal a house up and think it's going to be a nice place to live. You need a way for the house to breath. Which is exactly what you've said.
      - wlievens 16y ago
        I suspect Roel is Belgian. "Breathing" would in his context refer to euphimism for a leaky house.
      - roel_v 16y ago
chopsueyar 16y ago
Site is in flash, but they have many "secret" doors and vaults. http://hiddenpassageway.com/ http://hiddenpassageway.com/ (I think this was previously mentioned on HN).
AlexMuir 16y ago
Since the house doesn't (and never will) have gas, the choice is between electric and induction. Seems that it really is a no-brainer for us. I'd never even heard of induction so I need to do some research here.

by roel_v 16y ago

JCB_K 16y ago

I wouldn't say induction cooking is a no-brainer, not everybody likes it. I rather cook on a gas stove.

lachyg 16y ago
I would go induction any day of the week, incredibly handy.
petervandijck 16y ago
Agreed, I much prefer cooking gas. Dislike induction.
- eengstrom 16y ago
  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 copper pan. Also found that the rapid heat generated by an utterly imprecise dial control system could damage cookware, so I now tend to bring them to temp in two stages. I would definitely go with gas if the line is already brought into the kitchen and available. You can obtain Fogor induction cook tops and try them out and take them back if they don't work. Same mechanic as a full scale range. Make sure you do a double oven and if you can afford it, install a micro hood with a real vent outside the house - or your attic goods will smell like bacon in perpetuity.
  - roel_v 16y ago
    Are you talking about induction or ceramic? They're totally different, ceramic is crap, don't get that - it's only barely better than a 'regular' electric plate. There's no comparing the ease of use between the two - it's just that the look roughly similar from a distance, that's where the similarities end.
    - eengstrom 16y ago
      From my first sentence: serious mistake with a ceramic high-output cook top We did not go with the induction, I should have run gas. I did, however, test pretty extensively with induction. Even in the $6,000 range I wasn't pleased with the results in testing.
roel_v 16y ago
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 (unless you get a gas stove with build-in ignition) - No need to put in separate gas piping - Safer: never having to worry about children turning on the gas, or accidentally turning it on e.g. by bumping into it with a pot - Pots are on the stove in a much more stable position, both safer and easier to use. - Induction comes with build-in timers to turn off the heat for a pot (maybe some gas stoves have this, but then only the very expensive ones - I've never seen an induction plate that didn't have it). Only disadvantage is that not all pots work on it (i.e., you need pots with iron in it, aluminum won't work).
- Heimy 16y ago
  It still wouldn't call it a no-brainer just because of the "only disadvantage" that you mention. I'd have to throw away half of my pots (including a beautiful tagine)
  - roel_v 16y ago
    When you're spending $1500 on an induction plate, or $20k on a proper kitchen, the $250 to get some new pots isn't going to make the difference. And yes you can get induction tajines, Tefal has one for example. You use that one to cook in and the other one to look at.
- qjz 16y ago
  Note that portable single "burner" induction cooktops are available at under $100 for anyone who wants to investigate the technology before committing to it. It will remain a useful appliance, whatever your preference (warming plate, at-table presentations, cooking on the porch, etc.).
  - chopsueyar 16y ago

dirkgadsden 16y ago

Totally air-tight houses can be a danger as well; in my home (which is old and "breathes"), a heater once malfunctioned; when I noticed the malfunction (black accumulant around the vents) and called a technician to come check it out, the technician said that if the house had been air-tight I would likely be either severely hospitalized or dead, so sometimes a little non-air-tightness can be good, especially since it encourages you to open the windows and doors and get some fresh air instead of relying on the air conditioner all year round.

adestefan 16y ago
A home that can breath is also more comfortable. It keeps moisture in check and helps with stale air transfer.
- roel_v 16y ago
  No it's not! That was thought 30 years ago, but building technology has advanced. Ventilation needs to be controlled. Having cracks and leaking windows is very inefficient in keeping an optimal indoor climate, not to mention very energy inefficient. An airtight, very well insulated house with active ventilation (an indoor climate control system, not to be confused with airco) is the best way to get an optimal indoor living climate all year round.
  - adestefan 16y ago
    I wasn't talking about leaking windows. You can't seal a house up and think it's going to be a nice place to live. You need a way for the house to breath. Which is exactly what you've said.
    - wlievens 16y ago
      I suspect Roel is Belgian. "Breathing" would in his context refer to euphimism for a leaky house.
    - roel_v 16y ago

chopsueyar 16y ago

Site is in flash, but they have many "secret" doors and vaults. http://hiddenpassageway.com/ http://hiddenpassageway.com/ (I think this was previously mentioned on HN).

AlexMuir 16y ago

Since the house doesn't (and never will) have gas, the choice is between electric and induction. Seems that it really is a no-brainer for us. I'd never even heard of induction so I need to do some research here.