Topics › Earth, Energy & Environment

Best Power grid, heating & buildings videos, as recommended on Hacker News

55 videos about power grid, heating & buildings that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2013 and 2026. Mostly explainer, documentary, demo. Channels that come up most: Technology Connections, Practical Engineering, Kirsten Dirksen, Real Engineering. Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is Heat Pumps: the Future of Home Heating: HN's default recommendation for a friendly, thorough introduction to heat pumps and why they are so efficient.

• explainerHeat Pumps: the Future of Home HeatingTechnology Connections · 17 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• documentaryJames Burke Connections, Ep. 1 "The Trigger Effect"DRS_Education · 12 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• explainerWhy Heat Pumps are Immensely Important Right NowTechnology Connections · 9 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• explainerWhat Really Happened During the Texas Power Grid Outage?Practical Engineering · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• commentaryIt’s Time To Break Up With Our Gas Stoves | Climate TownClimate Town · 10 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• explainerGround Source / Geothermal Heat Pumps and Other InfoTechnology Connections · 6 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• explainerHeat Pumps are Not Hard: Here's what it will take to start pumpingTechnology Connections · 5 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• explainerConnecting Solar to the Grid is Harder Than You ThinkPractical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• explainerWhy don't Americans use electric kettles?Technology Connections · 5 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• explainerWhat Is A Black Start Of The Power Grid?Practical Engineering · 6 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• demoBest fan placement to move air through the houseMatthias random stuff · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• explainerWorld's Largest Batteries - (Pumped Storage)Practical Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• talkWhy Air Quality MattersDavid Heinemeier Hansson · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2024
• tutorialHow To Make Infrared Cooling Paint (Electricity Free Air Conditioning)NightHawkInLight · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• documentaryJames Burke Legend Connections 1 The Trigger EffectTim Callinan · 4 HN recommenders · 2022–2026
• explainerElectric car chargers aren't chargers at all – EVSE ExplainedTechnology Connections · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• explainerPortable Air Conditioners - Why you shouldn't like themTechnology Connections · 5 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• explainerHumidifiers: Simpler is better?Technology Connections · 5 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• documentaryBritain peak power demand (from BBC TV series: Britain from Above)fiddyschmitt · 4 HN recommenders · 2013–2026
• explainerThe Problem with Solar Energy in AfricaReal Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• explainerPerhaps the weakest link in the US electrical systemTechnology Connections · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• documentaryNebraska retiree uses earths's heat to grow oranges in snowKirsten Dirksen · 4 HN recommenders · 2019–2026
• explainerCalifornia's Renewable Energy ProblemReal Engineering · 4 HN recommenders · 2019–2022
• explainerThe US electrical system is not 120VTechnology Connections · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• talkThe Liquid Metal Battery: Innovation in stationary electricity storageSchool of Convergence Science · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• documentaryExposing The Dark Side of America's AI Data Center Explosion | View From Above | Business InsiderBusiness Insider · 2 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
• demoVertical Bifacial Solar Panel Performance Results Part 1Projects With Everyday Dave · 3 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• talkGSMT - Dan Holohan, Author: "The Lost Art of Steam Heating"The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• explainerWhy I Cook With InductionJon Kung · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2023
• documentaryEarth-cooled, shipping container underground CA home for 30KKirsten Dirksen · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• lectureDistinguished Lecturer Series: Building Science - Adventures in Building ScienceBerkeley Lab · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerThis Is Your Brain On Stale AirTom Scott · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• demoSolar Powered Air Conditioner!Tech Ingredients · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerProblems with gas stovetops | weak, dirty and dangerousAdam Ragusea · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2023
• explainerThermoelectric cooling: it's not great.Technology Connections · 3 HN recommenders · 2025–2025
• explainerPower is not energy: why the difference mattersTechnology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
• commentaryYanis Varoufakis exposes Europe's energy scamDiEM25 · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2026
• documentaryUnderground dome house of the family who led geese to fly homeKirsten Dirksen · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2026
• tutorialHow to Make a DIY Air Filter | Ask This Old HouseThis Old House · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2022
• explainerThe hidden background noise that can catch criminalsTom Scott · 3 HN recommenders · 2022–2025
• explainerWhat is a rocket mass heater?paul wheaton · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• explainerForced-air Furnaces: The What, Why, and HowTechnology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• tutorialBlower Door TestMatt Risinger · 2 HN recommenders · 2017–2023
• explainerAwnings: a simple cooling tech we apparently forgot aboutTechnology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2024–2025
• explainerThe LED's Challenge to High Pressure SodiumTechnology Connections · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2021
• explainerBatteries aren't the only way to store energy. Here's another.Technology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2023
• tutorialAir Conditioning isn't free... but we're close.Tech Ingredients · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2025
• explainerA simple water heater is more clever than it seemsTechnology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2023–2025
• explainerChest Freezers; What they tell us about designing for XTechnology Connections · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2026
• demoInside a smart meter, and the REAL problem with them.bigclivedotcom · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2024
• tutorialPassive House - Fresh Air System Install & Costs (Zehnder)Matt Risinger · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2022
• demoThe artificial skylight that you won't believe isn't realLux Magazine · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2020
• demoInside a heated shower head. (suicide shower)bigclivedotcom · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2024
• commentaryThe Power Grid: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2025
• demoAuthorized Personnel Only - How to Start and Sync a 400,000 Watt Turbine Hydroelectric GeneratorChris Boden · 1 HN recommender · 2024–2026