5 ms·

It still generates heat, which warms the planet.

gonzo41 6y ago
ummm,
gruez 6y ago
Is heat generated by humans really a significant contributor to global warming compared to the warming effects of human generated greenhouse gases?
- grozzle 6y ago
  It isn't. Anthropogenic heat is about 1% as strong as the greenhouse effect, according to this article in Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017116 https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017116
- rebuilder 6y ago
  Not yet. Assuming continuous growth, it would be sooner than you might think: https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ Of course that's more an illustration of why continuous growth is impossible than a prediction of what will happen.
AYBABTME 6y ago
The sun generates heat when it lands on the ground. One could say PV helps keep the ground cool! Haven't done any math either ways, but it's not like sunlight doesn't already heat up the planet.
CharlesW 6y ago
https://www.treehugger.com/ask-pablo-do-solar-panels-contribute-to-the-heat-island-effect-4857811 https://www.treehugger.com/ask-pablo-do-solar-panels-contrib... "Cities and their expansive hardscapes are certainly to blame for the heat island effect and, since the hardscapes and solar energy-absorbing roofs are already there, solar panels may actually represent a reduction in heat absorbtion. Add to that the fact that solar panels produce renewable energy that does not contribute to climate change like conventional sources like coal. Adding to that, the soot particles in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels contribute a radiative forcing of 0.1 to 0.4 W/m2. Solar panels, on the other hand, are reducing the amount of climate change-causing emissions. "So if you're wondering about the heat island effect before installing rooftop solar, don't. According to the numbers, the solar panels will not only produce energy, but keep your home slightly cooler, which means you'll be using less energy in the first place, which will keep us all a little cooler."
- maccam94 5y ago
  Sorry, the "it" I was referring to was mining hardware, not solar generation. Crypto-mining, if it continues to grow unabated, at some point will start to increase the price of energy and encourage more energy production. Some of that might be somewhat neutral solar, but using basically any other energy source would increase thermal energy being generated.
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

ummm,

Is heat generated by humans really a significant contributor to global warming compared to the warming effects of human generated greenhouse gases?

grozzle 6y ago
It isn't. Anthropogenic heat is about 1% as strong as the greenhouse effect, according to this article in Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017116 https://www.nature.com/articles/sdata2017116
rebuilder 6y ago
Not yet. Assuming continuous growth, it would be sooner than you might think: https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ https://dothemath.ucsd.edu/2011/07/galactic-scale-energy/ Of course that's more an illustration of why continuous growth is impossible than a prediction of what will happen.

AYBABTME 6y ago

The sun generates heat when it lands on the ground. One could say PV helps keep the ground cool! Haven't done any math either ways, but it's not like sunlight doesn't already heat up the planet.

CharlesW 6y ago

https://www.treehugger.com/ask-pablo-do-solar-panels-contribute-to-the-heat-island-effect-4857811 https://www.treehugger.com/ask-pablo-do-solar-panels-contrib... "Cities and their expansive hardscapes are certainly to blame for the heat island effect and, since the hardscapes and solar energy-absorbing roofs are already there, solar panels may actually represent a reduction in heat absorbtion. Add to that the fact that solar panels produce renewable energy that does not contribute to climate change like conventional sources like coal. Adding to that, the soot particles in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels contribute a radiative forcing of 0.1 to 0.4 W/m2. Solar panels, on the other hand, are reducing the amount of climate change-causing emissions. "So if you're wondering about the heat island effect before installing rooftop solar, don't. According to the numbers, the solar panels will not only produce energy, but keep your home slightly cooler, which means you'll be using less energy in the first place, which will keep us all a little cooler."

maccam94 5y ago
Sorry, the "it" I was referring to was mining hardware, not solar generation. Crypto-mining, if it continues to grow unabated, at some point will start to increase the price of energy and encourage more energy production. Some of that might be somewhat neutral solar, but using basically any other energy source would increase thermal energy being generated.

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]