3 ms·

Might as well write "violates laws of thermodynamics" because it isn't possible. The house is just using the heat that is produced within it to achieve a stable

Might as well write "violates laws of thermodynamics" because it isn't possible. The house is just using the heat that is produced within it to achieve a stable temperature. With very good insulation, you don't need much beyond the typical heat produced by appliances & people.

mattcantstop 4y ago
We are going to see how long it can sustain the temperatures. They are not repairing the mini-split heater until Friday. But it's been amazing how performant it has been without having the heater on despite it staying so cold. We haven't used any heating or cooling (other than induction stoves, oven, computers running, body heat) for about six months now. It got warm in the summer. The main floor got to about 80 while the pitched roof in the upstairs got warmer. The house really wants to retain heat. But it's been incredible in the winter so far with it barely getting above freezing.
tonyarkles 4y ago
This may come as a shock. We have a lightly modified (some insulation improvements in some areas, some new windows) mobile home made in 1983 that has a huge south facing window area. It has central forced air heating but only a wall shaker air conditioner for summer. We leave the furnace thermostat set to 65F when we’re there. On mild clear winter days (-15C or so), we have had to open the windows because the place has climbed above 80F! At night the furnace will run because the insulation is generally nothing special, but there’s a ton of solar energy available to heat the house directly. I’m kind of curious now to try turning the furnace off overnight just to see how cool it gets… Note: it sucks in the summer but because of our latitude we can quite effectively build an awning that will keep the windows in shadow during the summer and let all that light in during the winter. That is this year’s project for the spring :)

mattcantstop 4y ago

We are going to see how long it can sustain the temperatures. They are not repairing the mini-split heater until Friday. But it's been amazing how performant it has been without having the heater on despite it staying so cold. We haven't used any heating or cooling (other than induction stoves, oven, computers running, body heat) for about six months now. It got warm in the summer. The main floor got to about 80 while the pitched roof in the upstairs got warmer. The house really wants to retain heat. But it's been incredible in the winter so far with it barely getting above freezing.

tonyarkles 4y ago

This may come as a shock. We have a lightly modified (some insulation improvements in some areas, some new windows) mobile home made in 1983 that has a huge south facing window area. It has central forced air heating but only a wall shaker air conditioner for summer. We leave the furnace thermostat set to 65F when we’re there. On mild clear winter days (-15C or so), we have had to open the windows because the place has climbed above 80F! At night the furnace will run because the insulation is generally nothing special, but there’s a ton of solar energy available to heat the house directly. I’m kind of curious now to try turning the furnace off overnight just to see how cool it gets… Note: it sucks in the summer but because of our latitude we can quite effectively build an awning that will keep the windows in shadow during the summer and let all that light in during the winter. That is this year’s project for the spring :)