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"The sheer waste of energy to keep that hotel cooled down to those temperatures and golf-course playable year-round is just ridiculous." A similar temperature

by rsync 5y ago

"The sheer waste of energy to keep that hotel cooled down to those temperatures and golf-course playable year-round is just ridiculous." A similar temperature differential exists in Minnesota and Wisconsin (and elsewhere in the US) for months in the wintertime. Unlike air-conditioning which can be powered by solar and wind produced electricity, most heating is done by directly burning fossil fuels on-site. I think we should all be very cautious with our energy scorekeeping ...

aksss 5y ago
I agree with you about scorekeeping, but you did a weird comparison in your sentence about heating/cooling. You compared the potential of one with the reality of another. As in, AC can be powered by [renewable] electricity, but that most heating is [powered] by burning fossil fuels. It might be reasonable to ask how much AC actually is powered by renewables vs fossil fuels. Heating can also be done electrically, and therefore could be done with renewables. We all know that it's hella expensive at present to heat with electricity compared to natural gas, propane, or even wood in some places (at present).
- throwawaygh 5y ago
  AC-heavy environs -- especially deserts -- are a better use-case for existing renewable solutions than colder environs. And, also, actual uptake is higher. Solar can be more easily used for AC in desert environs because peak demand coincides exactly with peak production. And, it actually is. At least in places with access to capital. The situation is sadly exactly the opposite up north. For everything except geothermal the peak production (both in time of day and season) doesn't match up well with the peak demand. Also, AC requires a lot less energy than heating, regardless of generation method. But deserts have other sustainability issues. Water.
ffffwe3rq352y3 5y ago
The only problem I have is that its in a national park. I feel like parks should be for everyone but the renting a room is really expensive so you have to be mostly well off to get one. I guess it feels like an eyesore that richer people can use while everyone else is forced to camp.

by rsync 5y ago

aksss 5y ago

I agree with you about scorekeeping, but you did a weird comparison in your sentence about heating/cooling. You compared the potential of one with the reality of another. As in, AC can be powered by [renewable] electricity, but that most heating is [powered] by burning fossil fuels. It might be reasonable to ask how much AC actually is powered by renewables vs fossil fuels. Heating can also be done electrically, and therefore could be done with renewables. We all know that it's hella expensive at present to heat with electricity compared to natural gas, propane, or even wood in some places (at present).

throwawaygh 5y ago
AC-heavy environs -- especially deserts -- are a better use-case for existing renewable solutions than colder environs. And, also, actual uptake is higher. Solar can be more easily used for AC in desert environs because peak demand coincides exactly with peak production. And, it actually is. At least in places with access to capital. The situation is sadly exactly the opposite up north. For everything except geothermal the peak production (both in time of day and season) doesn't match up well with the peak demand. Also, AC requires a lot less energy than heating, regardless of generation method. But deserts have other sustainability issues. Water.

ffffwe3rq352y3 5y ago

The only problem I have is that its in a national park. I feel like parks should be for everyone but the renting a room is really expensive so you have to be mostly well off to get one. I guess it feels like an eyesore that richer people can use while everyone else is forced to camp.