This is a very interesting discussion. I personally think that a main factor is where you live. I am in Texas, about 125 miles from the gulf so AC is my main energy gobbler. My outdoor kitchen is in use at least 6 months of the year, so it is fully worth the investment of putting in a decent one. If I had the northern 12 weeks of summer, I may feel very different about the expense.
I moved to Texas from another extreme environment, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Several things transferred with me. One is a love of airlock style doors. Be it an enclosed porch or whatever, it sure cuts the cost of heating or cooling when the great outdoors does not directly meet your home environment. From reading the posts on this subject, I would guess how organized a person you are will also play a big role. I had to laugh at the post that listed 6 trips in and out to cook a meal. No offence intended, but I don't have time in my life for that sort of waste. I load a tray with everything I need and make 1 trip out and one back in when finished. I do have a sink and counter space. I have an toaster oven, hot plate, propane hot plate and grill all in my kitchen, so there is a degree of convenience that most people do not have. My outdoor kitchen was designed with the house as an integral part of the home. I have a small beverage fridge that lives in my breezeway between the house and the outdoors. This really cuts down on the trips in and out of the house. This fridge is only in operation during the months that the outdoor kitchen is. Another factor that I can see would play a big role is how much and what type of cooking one does. If one is a heat and serve type of cook who buy convenience foods, then the outdoor kitchen would be more of a pain than of use in any climate. At the other extreme, I grind my own wheat and make my own bread. All cooking is from scratch, so my kitchen is in use and generating lots of heat. Another factor might be what other uses you put your kitchen to. I am learning to make soap, I make candles and we practise home butcher. All of these activities generate odors that one may not want in the house, so again the outdoor kitchen is much appreciated. I am a serious fan of designing the house to fit the environment and uses that it will be put to. I believe that in the long run, this does make for a more energy efficient home. Bright Blessings, Kim ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/FGYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://infoarchive.net/sgroup/biofuel/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/biofuel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
