5 ms·

So what happens if this becomes routine? Will we just have to build all homes to have central AC like Florida?

by xwdv 5y ago

jeff303 5y ago
Most homes in the midwest, south, and west (apart from coastal California, perhaps) have central air.
- Baeocystin 5y ago
  Trust me, coastal California is all about air conditioning as well.
musingsole 5y ago
https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0316300136 https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/...
zzleeper 5y ago
Will that create more global warming?
- runarberg 5y ago
  Not if powered by green energy. Another reason why we must invest in green infrastructure.
  - lasfter 5y ago
    Even if powered by green energy, AC increases overall temperatures in a city (the heat has to go somewhere). Not global warming, but definitely makes it more miserable.
    - panny 5y ago
      HFCs in AC are GHGs with higher GWP than CO2 too. https://www.epa.gov/snap/reducing-hydrofluorocarbon-hfc-use-and-emissions-federal-sector-through-snap https://www.epa.gov/snap/reducing-hydrofluorocarbon-hfc-use-...
      - runarberg 5y ago
        Are hydrofluorocarbons from air conditioning systems really significant source of green house gas emotions (like Carbon dioxide is). I’m imagining that they are only global warming producing when the air conditioning systems are disposed. The lifecycle of an average system surely is long enough for that to be a problem. And if it is, aren’t there ways to capture the green house gasses during the recycling process? Also we have to live with the fact now that the planet is significantly warmer now, and is getting warmer still. Even if we stop polluting now, there is already much damage done. Peoples life’s have been changed, and we will need to change our habits to stay healthy in this altered world. This includes more air conditioning systems in places that previously didn’t need them. Staying healthy is just as important as stopping the climate crisis.
- TheTrueTDF 5y ago
  Most likely, yes.
toast0 5y ago
This was a brutal 3 days, but at least it wasn't humid like Florida. Hydration and shade made it possible to be outside, even if extremely unpleasant. If it's a handful of days a year, you can make do if you're in good health, anyway. One room with a window or minisplit a/c and everyone in that room will be much more comfortable than none and can be affordable if you shop at the right time. Designing to get the right airflow, rejecting direct solar heat, and what not can help a ton with regular summer heat in the PNW. Or at least, not being totally stupid about it and making greenhouses instead of green houses. Tree shadows help a ton too, although with warmer weather, there's fire risk, and you need to select trees carefully to avoid fall risk (just say no to cottonwoods near your house, cause they like to fall and drop limbs)
- gdubs 5y ago
  We had to take out a lot of giant cottonwoods that someone planted for shade a long time ago. Super hazardous, right on the house. The previous owner also installed gigantic west facing windows — no doubt to optimize for every ounce of PNW light before Las Vegas weather was a thing here. So we installed this 3M film that both cuts down on the glare and also reduces solar gain, and we’re super happy with it. It’s basically a tint. It’s incredible because it’s actually more pleasant to look out through, see the clouds, etc.
  - toast0 5y ago
    Cottonwoods grow pretty quick in the right conditions (lots of sun and moisture), so a 10 year old tree may be 40-50 feet tall.
    - gdubs 5y ago
      The big one was ballpark 115’/120’. We had to have a crane remove it. Sad day; as much as poplar drive me crazy — they’re invasive weeds really — it was a giant. We’ve planted a lot of oaks and maples (and a bunch of other stuff).
rantwasp 5y ago
if it becomes routine? when i moved to the PNW 20 years ago the summer had maybe a weekend or two that were hot and by hot I mean maybe 80. You would get laughed out of a room if you asked why doesn't anyone have AC. Nowadays, nobody is laughing. The summers are getting hotter and hotter. We are IMHO at a point where if you're renting/buying/building a house AC should definitely be one of the things you must consider.

So what happens if this becomes routine? Will we just have to build all homes to have central AC like Florida?

by xwdv 5y ago

So what happens if this becomes routine? Will we just have to build all homes to have central AC like Florida?

jeff303 5y ago

Most homes in the midwest, south, and west (apart from coastal California, perhaps) have central air.

Baeocystin 5y ago
Trust me, coastal California is all about air conditioning as well.

musingsole 5y ago

https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/dp/0316300136 https://www.amazon.com/Ministry-Future-Kim-Stanley-Robinson/...

zzleeper 5y ago

Will that create more global warming?

runarberg 5y ago
Not if powered by green energy. Another reason why we must invest in green infrastructure.
- lasfter 5y ago
  Even if powered by green energy, AC increases overall temperatures in a city (the heat has to go somewhere). Not global warming, but definitely makes it more miserable.
  - panny 5y ago
    HFCs in AC are GHGs with higher GWP than CO2 too. https://www.epa.gov/snap/reducing-hydrofluorocarbon-hfc-use-and-emissions-federal-sector-through-snap https://www.epa.gov/snap/reducing-hydrofluorocarbon-hfc-use-...
    - runarberg 5y ago
      Are hydrofluorocarbons from air conditioning systems really significant source of green house gas emotions (like Carbon dioxide is). I’m imagining that they are only global warming producing when the air conditioning systems are disposed. The lifecycle of an average system surely is long enough for that to be a problem. And if it is, aren’t there ways to capture the green house gasses during the recycling process? Also we have to live with the fact now that the planet is significantly warmer now, and is getting warmer still. Even if we stop polluting now, there is already much damage done. Peoples life’s have been changed, and we will need to change our habits to stay healthy in this altered world. This includes more air conditioning systems in places that previously didn’t need them. Staying healthy is just as important as stopping the climate crisis.
TheTrueTDF 5y ago
Most likely, yes.

toast0 5y ago

This was a brutal 3 days, but at least it wasn't humid like Florida. Hydration and shade made it possible to be outside, even if extremely unpleasant. If it's a handful of days a year, you can make do if you're in good health, anyway. One room with a window or minisplit a/c and everyone in that room will be much more comfortable than none and can be affordable if you shop at the right time. Designing to get the right airflow, rejecting direct solar heat, and what not can help a ton with regular summer heat in the PNW. Or at least, not being totally stupid about it and making greenhouses instead of green houses. Tree shadows help a ton too, although with warmer weather, there's fire risk, and you need to select trees carefully to avoid fall risk (just say no to cottonwoods near your house, cause they like to fall and drop limbs)

gdubs 5y ago
We had to take out a lot of giant cottonwoods that someone planted for shade a long time ago. Super hazardous, right on the house. The previous owner also installed gigantic west facing windows — no doubt to optimize for every ounce of PNW light before Las Vegas weather was a thing here. So we installed this 3M film that both cuts down on the glare and also reduces solar gain, and we’re super happy with it. It’s basically a tint. It’s incredible because it’s actually more pleasant to look out through, see the clouds, etc.
- toast0 5y ago
  Cottonwoods grow pretty quick in the right conditions (lots of sun and moisture), so a 10 year old tree may be 40-50 feet tall.
  - gdubs 5y ago
    The big one was ballpark 115’/120’. We had to have a crane remove it. Sad day; as much as poplar drive me crazy — they’re invasive weeds really — it was a giant. We’ve planted a lot of oaks and maples (and a bunch of other stuff).

rantwasp 5y ago

if it becomes routine? when i moved to the PNW 20 years ago the summer had maybe a weekend or two that were hot and by hot I mean maybe 80. You would get laughed out of a room if you asked why doesn't anyone have AC. Nowadays, nobody is laughing. The summers are getting hotter and hotter. We are IMHO at a point where if you're renting/buying/building a house AC should definitely be one of the things you must consider.