Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Heat people, not spaces (2015)

solar.lowtechmagazine.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 335 posts

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#261

Post by vages »

occz wrote: post #225
mypalmike wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not personally advocating for this, but some argue for water conservation by taking a https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower which involves only about 2 minutes of time in the water.

>A Navy shower (also known as a "combat shower", "military shower", "sea shower", "staggered shower", or "G.I. bath") is a method of showering that allows for significant conservation of water and energy by turning off the flow of water in the middle portion of the shower while lathering. Hold up - do you mean to tell me that people do not turn off the water while lathering? I've showered this way all my life, is thi…

I came up with this method a few years ago and have used it ever since. I’ve never looked back; I’m no less comfortable now than before, and I enjoy using less energy even though my hot water use is included in the rent.

I’ve had little luck converting friends and family to it, though.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#262

Post by bluGill »

myth2018 wrote: post #49
throw0101a wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The new houses are designed with zero consideration about ventilation, designers seem to take for granted that you are going to buy an AC system. These are two separate problems. In the ideal situation, you generally want the house to be fairly air tight and condition the air for (a) temperature and (b) humidity. Each of (a) and (b) are taken care of by different mechanical units: one is monitored by a thermometer…

> These are two separate problems I've learned a lot about US climates and their notion of ventilation, here at the comments I got. I hope you guys also have found interesting that, in some other parts of the globe, ventilation and air cooling are two very interconnected concepts. And also that, in climates like ours, relying solely on AC while not taking advantage of the cooling properties of moving air masses means…

Most of western Europe (the part most in Europe reading this are from ) have mild climates compared to the US. Of course the US is a large country, and so there are more climates in discussion. What works well in Europe often doesn't in the US.

Of course one size fits all codes don't help. What works well in Europe will work someplace in the US, just not everywhere

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#263

Post by OJFord »

occz wrote: post #225
mypalmike wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not personally advocating for this, but some argue for water conservation by taking a https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower which involves only about 2 minutes of time in the water.

>A Navy shower (also known as a "combat shower", "military shower", "sea shower", "staggered shower", or "G.I. bath") is a method of showering that allows for significant conservation of water and energy by turning off the flow of water in the middle portion of the shower while lathering. Hold up - do you mean to tell me that people do not turn off the water while lathering? I've showered this way all my life, is thi…

Honestly in the time it'd take to turn it off and on I could basically finish 'lathering', I don't belabour it or find particular pleasure in prolonged showers.

I can understand it for people that like a long shower, maybe.. except that surely it's the water they enjoy rather than just the process, so being there with it off wouldn't be any fun?

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#264

Post by refurb »

cameronh90 wrote: post #233
refurb wrote: post #189

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Your nasal passages and airways do any amazing job or co diction if air before it gets deep into the lungs. Tropical animals don’t since they don’t need it

There are also tropical people living in somewhat less than tropical climates too. They have shorter nostrils. My girlfriend is one of them and has especially short nostrils. Whenever the air gets cold she gets terrible nosebleeds, headaches and more. Outside, she has to put a scarf over her nose. My long narrow nose is great at conditioning the air, but conversely I can't breathe through my nose when I exercise...

Your nostril length is irrelevant. Most of the “conditioning” happens between the skull (where turbinates start) and the trachea.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#265

Post by SenHeng »

thaumasiotes wrote: post #146
presentation wrote: post #145

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people in the warmer parts of Japan and China (not Hokkaido, not Heilongjiang) don’t use that much heating in the winter, I’ve gotten used to it and don’t really find it a problem.

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.

I've always found the best way to stay warm when sleeping, is to wear as little clothes as possible. My best guess is that heat escapes from our hands and feet so all the warm clothes causes this huge difference in temperature in our bodies.

Even here in -20 temps, I typically sleep in a t-shirt and shorts. Heat from my body warms up the little enclosed space under the blankets quite quickly and the overall temp is a lot more comfortable than being wrapped up in multiple layers that restrict movement.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#266

Post by ciphol »

taoufix wrote: post #250

One thing that always bothered me about energy waste are fridges in the cold winter. Outside the house is cold, so we heat the house. Outside the fridge (house) is hot, so we cool inside fridge. Is there no option for fridges/freezers to get cold air from outside the house? Or is the overcomplication not worth it?

You'd have to put a vent through the wall. People do this for clothes dryers. But for fridges it's probably not worth it - worthless in summer, and in winter the bad insulation around the vent likely cancels out the electricity savings.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#267

Post by dotancohen »

There have been many articles about heating recently, most likely due to expected European gas shortages.

But the bigger issue is how to cool off. Every summer has been hotter than the previous, and things are getting worse. Are there any effective ways to cool a dwelling, other than the traditional electrically-powered air conditioning? I've seen evaporative coolers, but what can people do who live in humid environments? Or have water restrictions?

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#268

Post by lucidguppy »

wolverine876 wrote: post #208
lucidguppy wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The temperature of the house is not uniform - areas are colder than others. But when you heat up to 68F - then the really cold areas of the house stay (usually) above freezing. If you let the house drop to 60-55 F - there's no guarantee that the colder parts of your walls and pipes freeze.

Maybe in your house, but the temperature here drops into the 50s at night (or when we're on vacation) regularly in the winter, and zero issues or signs of anything freezing. When we're not using it, we set the thermostat at 10C / 50F. > If you let the house drop to 60-55 F - there's no guarantee that the colder parts of your walls and pipes freeze. That sounds like pretty high variation? ~25-30 deg F?

If the people building the house run the cold water pipes through the outside walls then yeah - you have to worry about temperatures there too.

You only have to freeze your pipes once...

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#269

Post by dotancohen »

samatman wrote: post #159
spaetzleesser wrote: post #80

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I too love campfires.

Re: Heat people, not spaces (2015)

#270

Post by throw0101a »

gkop wrote: post #140
kccqzy wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is exactly the problem with newer design and construction philosophy. Its premise is that we will use mechanical systems, and then try to make these mechanical systems more efficient such as improving insulation, using multi-stage condensers for the AC, etc. This is epitomized in the passive house concept. In contrast the older philosophy is that natural ventilation is good enough, so we design houses to improve…

My personal preference is deeply in the natural ventilation camp, and the typically delicious air we have in the Bay Area is a boon to my wellness. I leave the windows mostly open 24/7 three seasons, and in the winter I partially open them during significant portions of the day. It’s wonderful. But during the worsening wildfires seasons, I must tightly seal and air purify my apartment for weeks straight, and had to b…

> How idiosyncratic are my preferences and environmental circumstances? Are any architects working on house designs for me?

Very. SFO is is in climate zone 3, and the Bay Area is a micro-climate unto itself:

* https://basc.pnnl.gov/images/iecc-climate-zone-map

Do you think Florida or Texas could do the same thing? Minnesota or the Dakotas? Anywhere in Colorado or the New England region?

An architect will design anything you want, as long as it meets code.

Post reply on HN