ASU says running AC Units makes the valley hotter!

Covert Rain

Father smelt of elderberries!
Supporting Member
Joined
Jan 27, 2005
Posts
38,304
Reaction score
17,837
Location
Arizona
Interesting enough there are some industries looking at building design from the middle east to use on future building designs here. It involves vents that capture hot air, pump through the ground under the building which is cooler then releasing that air into the building cooling them. They say it has the potential to cut down on A/C use worldwide.
 
Last edited:

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
123,313
Reaction score
63,791
Interesting enough there are some industries looking at building design from the middle east to use on future building designs here. It involves vents that capture hot air, pump through the ground under the building which is cooler then releasing that air into the building cooling them. They say it has the potential to cut down on A/C use worldwide.

I remember a television program where it showed a house connected to an old well or mind shaft that cooled the house.

It's not that complicated. It takes some extra thought and work, which more than makes up for it.
 

dreamcastrocks

Chopped Liver Moderator
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Posts
46,571
Reaction score
12,516
It's just math. If you make 20,000 cubic feet of air 20 degrees colder inside, you're making 20,000 cubic feet of air 20 degrees hotter outside.
Exactly. I'm more surprised ASU needed this study and we needed a news story about it.

except that it isn't just math, but also physics. :D
 

Finito

ASFN Icon
Joined
Oct 23, 2005
Posts
21,180
Reaction score
13,970
It's just math. If you make 20,000 cubic feet of air 20 degrees colder inside, you're making 20,000 cubic feet of air 20 degrees hotter outside.

Pretty much. When I first got in the business and your learning how a system works it’s pretty much new air in old air out.
 
OP
OP
Yuma

Yuma

Suns are my Kryptonite!
Joined
Jan 3, 2003
Posts
24,751
Reaction score
14,372
Location
Laveen, AZ
But wait, I have been told by many that humans CANNOT change nature enough to warm the environment?
 

dreamcastrocks

Chopped Liver Moderator
Super Moderator
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2005
Posts
46,571
Reaction score
12,516
Don't worry. My wife and kids leave the doors open all the time so I'm actually cooling the city.
Haha.

Although in reality, you are still warming the city. Let's say you have a good AC unit that cools the air inside 20 degrees, which then heats the air outside right around 20 degrees for a net wash. Then factor in that you are having to use more AC to cool the air that escaped outside, creating more hot air etc.

I'm a nerd.
 

dscher

ASFN Icon
Joined
Sep 3, 2008
Posts
13,489
Reaction score
8,544
Location
Mesa, AZ
Haha.

Although in reality, you are still warming the city. Let's say you have a good AC unit that cools the air inside 20 degrees, which then heats the air outside right around 20 degrees for a net wash. Then factor in that you are having to use more AC to cool the air that escaped outside, creating more hot air etc.

I'm a nerd.
Knowing about AC efficiency living in AZ should be something to absolutely nerd out on. Lol
 

Mainstreet

Cruisin' Mainstreet
Supporting Member
Joined
Oct 19, 2003
Posts
123,313
Reaction score
63,791
I don't think there is any long term escape from climate change.

It reminds me of some required reading in high school, "On the Beach" by Nevil Shute, where people try to escape from spreading radiation.

The scenario is different but the idea is similar.
 

Staff online

Forum statistics

Threads
669,638
Posts
5,632,831
Members
6,358
Latest member
angel_ofthe_south
Top