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One of the biggest skills humanity has to learn soon is global heat management. At the same time it's 100 degrees in Dallas, it's freezing cold in some other pa

One of the biggest skills humanity has to learn soon is global heat management. At the same time it's 100 degrees in Dallas, it's freezing cold in some other part of the world. And in the same place but at a different time of year, the temperature goes down to around 40 degrees. There's got to be a way to even out those fluctuations, and doing so would produce immense benefits: humans are comfortable in 60-70 degree weather, so by moving heat from the hot space/time locations to the frigid ones, we win on both sides of the deal. And by the way, the Second Law of Thermodynamics also wants to smooth out temperature gradients. It's got to be possible.

spraak 7y ago
Literally pumping heat or cold around the earth, you're saying? That sounds like it could have a disastrous effect on the seasons at best...
krapht 7y ago
Build your house in the ground. We should all live in Hobbit holes, which means comfort, because of consistent year round ground temperatures.
- RandomBacon 7y ago
  And having "grass roofs" would probably be better for the environment too.
lurker458 7y ago
To even it out across space already exists. Temperature differences generate a force that vastly outnumbers our own energy production capabilities (including nukes). It's called wind.
cobookman 7y ago
I’ve wondered as solar gets more popular we’ll have heat and cooling systems that take advantage of the free excess electricity. For example heat my water to 140% the ideal temp and cool a thermal sink for ac when I’m away from home during peak solar. Then when I’m at home and it’s no longer sunny my electricity needs are nil as I utilize the pre stored coolant and heat. Haven’t done the math but I’d assume a 500 gallon water tank that’s heated or cooled during peak solar with insulation could be used to keep your home at the perfect temperature by using excess solar.
- Scoundreller 7y ago
  Ideally, use phase changes. A bank of ice will reject a lot more heat than 1C water. Steam too, but it’s better for transport versus storage. You could melt wax if space was at a premium.
- mywittyname 7y ago
  Using a water tank as a primary heat sink for a reversible heat pump will probably reduce energy usage quite a bit on extreme weather days. Especially if said tank is installed under basement to keep the temperatures relatively stable.

spraak 7y ago

Literally pumping heat or cold around the earth, you're saying? That sounds like it could have a disastrous effect on the seasons at best...

krapht 7y ago

Build your house in the ground. We should all live in Hobbit holes, which means comfort, because of consistent year round ground temperatures.

RandomBacon 7y ago
And having "grass roofs" would probably be better for the environment too.

lurker458 7y ago

To even it out across space already exists. Temperature differences generate a force that vastly outnumbers our own energy production capabilities (including nukes). It's called wind.

cobookman 7y ago

I’ve wondered as solar gets more popular we’ll have heat and cooling systems that take advantage of the free excess electricity. For example heat my water to 140% the ideal temp and cool a thermal sink for ac when I’m away from home during peak solar. Then when I’m at home and it’s no longer sunny my electricity needs are nil as I utilize the pre stored coolant and heat. Haven’t done the math but I’d assume a 500 gallon water tank that’s heated or cooled during peak solar with insulation could be used to keep your home at the perfect temperature by using excess solar.

Scoundreller 7y ago
Ideally, use phase changes. A bank of ice will reject a lot more heat than 1C water. Steam too, but it’s better for transport versus storage. You could melt wax if space was at a premium.
mywittyname 7y ago
Using a water tank as a primary heat sink for a reversible heat pump will probably reduce energy usage quite a bit on extreme weather days. Especially if said tank is installed under basement to keep the temperatures relatively stable.