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Heat people, not spaces (2015)

solar.lowtechmagazine.com

151–160 of 335 posts

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#151
Interesting thought.

I wouldn't buy a car without seat and steering wheel heating anymore. Much more efficient than heating the air (even it the "room" is relatively tiny in a car).

I guess the same principle (concentrate energy on a small target to get better results) is at play with Beefers and AirFyers.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#152
post #126

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Last December, Nevada County Ca, where I live, had a massive snow storm that knocked out power and snowed people in for 1-3 weeks. I wound up huddled in my apartment with 45 degree heat for five days or so. With enough sweaters, I was a comfortable temperature. Aside from what you mention, since basically you providing your own heat for yourself, you have to put or take off layers depending on physical activity. And…

One place you still need heat is the shower. Maybe some people are okay with taking a shower in 45F ambient temps, but I would resist it.

Do you mean water or air temps? I would hate a shower in 45F water, but a shower in hot water in 45F temps would be fine.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I lived in Shanghai, which is too warm for snow in the winter. But it's still freezing cold; when I wasn't running heat (because I didn't know how), I'd wake up in the morning with my toes suffering from frostbite. I was miserable all the time until I obtained a space heater.

That sounds like you have the wrong blanket.

A better set of blankets is potentially a solution to the narrow problem of my toes freezing while I'm asleep. It doesn't do anything for me while I'm awake.

Note that I was living in a school dormitory with bedding provided by the dorm, so it met a local standard of reasonableness.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#155
post #151

Interesting thought. I wouldn't buy a car without seat and steering wheel heating anymore. Much more efficient than heating the air (even it the "room" is relatively tiny in a car). I guess the same principle (concentrate energy on a small target to get better results) is at play with Beefers and AirFyers.

If it’s an IC engine, the convection heating is waste heat from the engine. So the electric heaters in the wheel and seats are massively less efficient.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#157

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An alternative is heating panels that emit long IR. These allow you to maintain a lower air temperature and still be comfortable when they're shining on you.

How even is that warming you get from them? I find it very uncomfortable to sit outside at a restaurant where they have heaters. One side gets roasted and the other is cold.

The same way the sun warms you when you walk out of the shade. Air temperature is the same but you feel warmer. Long IR is completely different than conventional heating elements that can only heat air.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#158
post #60

An issue with keeping yourself warm with clothing is some hotspots get too warm, and others too cold. Like the armpits usually get too warm, but your exposed hands too cold. If your slippers have sheep's wool in them, like ugg slippers, then they often sweat a lot or feel a little wet while simultaneously feeling cold at times, or warm enough. Most sweaters are also not designed to keep your armpits a little bit cool…

Yeah, but is that sort of discomfort worth the energy usage of heating the entire room? An alternative is also, as it is mentioned in the article, to warm certain spots in a room instead of the whole of it.

I tend to be cheap, not even just frugal, but it's worth it to me. During my first winter in my own place, I set the thermostat to the low 60s F to save money. After about two weeks I concluded that feeling perpetually uncomfortable in my own place wasn't worth whatever money I was saving. It felt like trying not to drink water when thirsty to save money. Warmth is just such a basic human need. Better to save in a number of other ways. I definitely wouldn't do this to my wife and kids now.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

An alternative is heating panels that emit long IR. These allow you to maintain a lower air temperature and still be comfortable when they're shining on you.

How even is that warming you get from them? I find it very uncomfortable to sit outside at a restaurant where they have heaters. One side gets roasted and the other is cold.

There's such variety in comfort. Being too warm on one side and too cold on another is one of my favorite ways to be.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#160

What about your lungs? There is a reason tropical animals die with respiratory diseases when using heat pads in their inclosure over warming the air.

I too thought this was an important issue that seemed to be missing from the article. That and the risk of burns.
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