5 ms·

Unfortunately, I doubt any schools in my neck of the woods could seriously consider that. North-midwestern winters are very uncomfortable.

wallacoloo 6y ago
In my neck of the woods, it’s not too uncommon to find year-round outdoor seating at restaurants thanks to radiative heaters. Mind you, I’ve never tried one of these when it’s colder than maybe 45 F. But do you think something like that is feasible?
- wyldfire 6y ago
  Northern midwest US - up until January, probably. I don't think they'd be terribly effective in late January or most of February.
- KMag 6y ago
  Having grown up in Minnesota, come late January and early February, on the days when the high temperatures are under 0F/-18 C, putting a child out there for 8 hours under a radiant heater, I think you might actually melt hats/coat hoods before you fully prevent frostbitten toes. Even if you can keep the whole kid at reasonable temperatures, I think it would just be very distracting. Also, for that power/propane bill, you're probably better off with either per-desk transparent positive-pressure medical isolation tents or full-face snorkel masks fitted with 3D printed adapters to ceramic-element anesthesia machine air filters. In addition, kids play. Some small percentage of those kids are going to get burned by heaters.
- kayodelycaon 6y ago
  Grew up in Wisconsin, this wouldn't work at all. I've been around a roaring bonfire in winter. There's a massive temperature difference a few feet in any direction. It's far too easy to overheat or freeze if you aren't paying attention. Any amount of wind makes this more complicated. Radiative heating outside, in winter only works if you have some kind of shelter to reflect and contain the heat. Even then you have to be mindful of your environment.
rocketpastsix 6y ago
Conversely, with kids in the southeast getting ready to go back in a few weeks, there is no way we could do outdoor classes with temps getting into triple digits with the heat index.
- Miner49er 6y ago
  How did they have school before air conditioning in the region? It must be possible. Maybe not for kids with certain conditions.
  - tyingq 6y ago
    I'm sure it was still uncomfortable, but the building likely had much different ventilation.
  - jdmichal 6y ago
    Buildings were designed differently, and society worked differently. Buildings now are designed to be sealed against the elements, where before A/C they were designed to maximize exposure to airflow. Things like lanais, Bahama shutters, crawl spaces, dogtrot houses, etc were all strategies for blocking sun and improving airflow. Even passive solar strategies existed, like using large deciduous trees to block sun in the summer and allow it in the winter. On the societal side, there was less expectation for society to keep moving during midday heat, sometimes explicitly formalized like the Spanish siesta. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/07/keepin-it-cool-how-the-air-conditioner-made-modern-america/241892/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/07/keepi... EDIT: Can't believe I forgot about solar chimneys and evaporative coolers (aka swamp coolers).
    - saagarjha 6y ago
      Many newer buildings are shifting back towards being “breathable” to cut energy costs.
      - jdmichal 6y ago
sukilot 6y ago
Summer school, winter break for you.

wallacoloo 6y ago

In my neck of the woods, it’s not too uncommon to find year-round outdoor seating at restaurants thanks to radiative heaters. Mind you, I’ve never tried one of these when it’s colder than maybe 45 F. But do you think something like that is feasible?

wyldfire 6y ago
Northern midwest US - up until January, probably. I don't think they'd be terribly effective in late January or most of February.
KMag 6y ago
Having grown up in Minnesota, come late January and early February, on the days when the high temperatures are under 0F/-18 C, putting a child out there for 8 hours under a radiant heater, I think you might actually melt hats/coat hoods before you fully prevent frostbitten toes. Even if you can keep the whole kid at reasonable temperatures, I think it would just be very distracting. Also, for that power/propane bill, you're probably better off with either per-desk transparent positive-pressure medical isolation tents or full-face snorkel masks fitted with 3D printed adapters to ceramic-element anesthesia machine air filters. In addition, kids play. Some small percentage of those kids are going to get burned by heaters.
kayodelycaon 6y ago
Grew up in Wisconsin, this wouldn't work at all. I've been around a roaring bonfire in winter. There's a massive temperature difference a few feet in any direction. It's far too easy to overheat or freeze if you aren't paying attention. Any amount of wind makes this more complicated. Radiative heating outside, in winter only works if you have some kind of shelter to reflect and contain the heat. Even then you have to be mindful of your environment.

rocketpastsix 6y ago

Conversely, with kids in the southeast getting ready to go back in a few weeks, there is no way we could do outdoor classes with temps getting into triple digits with the heat index.

Miner49er 6y ago
How did they have school before air conditioning in the region? It must be possible. Maybe not for kids with certain conditions.
- tyingq 6y ago
  I'm sure it was still uncomfortable, but the building likely had much different ventilation.
- jdmichal 6y ago
  Buildings were designed differently, and society worked differently. Buildings now are designed to be sealed against the elements, where before A/C they were designed to maximize exposure to airflow. Things like lanais, Bahama shutters, crawl spaces, dogtrot houses, etc were all strategies for blocking sun and improving airflow. Even passive solar strategies existed, like using large deciduous trees to block sun in the summer and allow it in the winter. On the societal side, there was less expectation for society to keep moving during midday heat, sometimes explicitly formalized like the Spanish siesta. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/07/keepin-it-cool-how-the-air-conditioner-made-modern-america/241892/ https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/07/keepi... EDIT: Can't believe I forgot about solar chimneys and evaporative coolers (aka swamp coolers).
  - saagarjha 6y ago
    Many newer buildings are shifting back towards being “breathable” to cut energy costs.
    - jdmichal 6y ago

sukilot 6y ago

Summer school, winter break for you.