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A big issue is whether or not our power grid can handle all these new air conditioners coming online. Historically, it hasn't been able to handle it well in the

A big issue is whether or not our power grid can handle all these new air conditioners coming online. Historically, it hasn't been able to handle it well in the past two years.

bellyfullofbac 5y ago
I guess in the near future we'll be having partial blackouts to power the emergency "cool shelters", where everyone will have to go to, to keep cool...
- pope_meat 5y ago
  Let's just go full on mole people, tunnels underground, all we need is a surface antenna for the 5G. It's not like most of us see much sunlight as it is.
  - Arrath 5y ago
    I would totally rock a hobbit hole, however I don't think that is a scalable solution for massive population bases.
- shostack 5y ago
  Which will be just lovely depending on the covid situation.
- SomewhatLikely 5y ago
  Not sure if you're aware but we literally had cooling centers here in Seattle during the heat wave.
pengaru 5y ago
Isn't the pivot to EVs more of a grid stressor than 120VAC window rattlers
- chaostheory 5y ago
  I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that the existing system can’t even handle the current load and the author is proposing to add even more load at scale without addressing our power infrastructure.
  - pengaru 5y ago
    My point is that AC additions doesn't seem like the major grid capacity issue on the horizon. If the grid is getting upgraded sufficiently for the imminent EV transition, won't that more than cover daytime AC demands?
    - chaostheory 5y ago
      The grid is currently getting upgraded for transmitting power safely. I may have missed something but I don’t think it’s being upgraded for capacity.
bsder 5y ago
Solar generation peaks roughly at the same time that air conditioning loads peak. Making commercial buildings put solar on their roofs and over their parking areas would help a lot. Giving people incentives to put in battery storage to do load shifting would also help a lot since AC load is local to a building.

A big issue is whether or not our power grid can handle all these new air conditioners coming online. Historically, it hasn't been able to handle it well in the past two years.

bellyfullofbac 5y ago

I guess in the near future we'll be having partial blackouts to power the emergency "cool shelters", where everyone will have to go to, to keep cool...

pope_meat 5y ago
Let's just go full on mole people, tunnels underground, all we need is a surface antenna for the 5G. It's not like most of us see much sunlight as it is.
- Arrath 5y ago
  I would totally rock a hobbit hole, however I don't think that is a scalable solution for massive population bases.
shostack 5y ago
Which will be just lovely depending on the covid situation.
SomewhatLikely 5y ago
Not sure if you're aware but we literally had cooling centers here in Seattle during the heat wave.

pengaru 5y ago

Isn't the pivot to EVs more of a grid stressor than 120VAC window rattlers

chaostheory 5y ago
I’m not sure what your point is. My point is that the existing system can’t even handle the current load and the author is proposing to add even more load at scale without addressing our power infrastructure.
- pengaru 5y ago
  My point is that AC additions doesn't seem like the major grid capacity issue on the horizon. If the grid is getting upgraded sufficiently for the imminent EV transition, won't that more than cover daytime AC demands?
  - chaostheory 5y ago
    The grid is currently getting upgraded for transmitting power safely. I may have missed something but I don’t think it’s being upgraded for capacity.

bsder 5y ago

Solar generation peaks roughly at the same time that air conditioning loads peak. Making commercial buildings put solar on their roofs and over their parking areas would help a lot. Giving people incentives to put in battery storage to do load shifting would also help a lot since AC load is local to a building.