4 ms·
I can look at the wet-bulb temperature and see exactly how far trees will get me. This time of year, it isn't far -- which checks out, because I have plenty of
by jjoonathan 3y ago
I can look at the wet-bulb temperature and see exactly how far trees will get me. This time of year, it isn't far -- which checks out, because I have plenty of trees and they don't stop the heat. Swamp coolers (trees are swamp coolers, thermodynamically speaking) are brilliant if humidity is low and freshwater is plentiful, but if either of those wheels come off no amount of wishful thinking will make evaporation work comparably to a refrigeration cycle. Where I live, it's the humidity. Fortunately, I do have real AC, and even better, my power mix is predominantly nuclear so I can crank that AC and get real cooling without pumping legions of dead dinosaurs into the sky. Damn it's nice to live in the 21st century. Or the 20th.
- BeetleB 3y agoI don't know exactly how many degrees the shade will bring the temperature down, but just today my portable temperature sensor reported an 8F degree difference compared to one in the shade - both were in the same area of the house, but one happened to be where sunlight was coming in from a narrow window. And the sensor was in the sunlight for under an hour when I recorded the difference. Of course, this is spot heating, and over a whole house the effect will be diminished, but it tells you how quickly things can get hot.
- jjoonathan 3y agoNo, I did not forget that shade exists. It's still uncomfortable in the summer. Once RH hits 100%, evaporation stops cooling and your options are to go without or to use a different thermodynamic cycle. We've got plenty of freshwater in these parts, but in other places freshwater availability will be the limiting factor. Famously, swamp cooling works great in the desert if you can spare the water. Trees are great, let's just be real about what they can and can't do.