GUEST POST from Don: COOL

COOL

Recently, I read ANOTHER inane article pushing the idea that the earth is warming AND that humans will have to find new ways to cool off (for +1.3 degrees F?).  Have you noticed that government is pushing the electrification of all things home and travel?  Strangely, they are doing this even though a well-known study concluded in 2019, that it would be an ineffective program.  I quote a summary from that study, “Scenarios demonstrate this sector cannot achieve the Paris Agreement 2050 target by decarbonizing electricity production alone“  (PNAS “The carbon footprint of household energy use in the United States published July 20, 2020).  They studied 93 million homes to verify their data.  If the earth is hotter by even 1.3 degrees F I know that my current A/C system will not cope.

Considering their aggressive energy goals, I foresee that the government will begin enforce the closure of buildings which are not used enough to justify their energy usage.  That includes office buildings where most employees work remotely, churches, vacation homes, clubhouses, and concert venues.  Look for it first in Great Britain.

Oddly, what they will not do is close the border to stabilize our population (we are growing by 1% per year just with illegal immigration).  As a logical result this will make reaching their energy usage goals impossible.  Please explain to me how these two facts make sense together!  

Honestly, there are only 2 things which can cause humans more discomfort than broken A/C.  
1) The uncertainty of the electrical grid.  Assuming we have access to a solid electrical grid there is no problem with any small warming of the earth.  Summers will be slightly warmer, but so will winters. The cost of more A/C in the summer will be offset by the reduction in heating in the winter.  Not a big deal in itself…as long as there are not widespread brownouts or blackouts caused by an infrastructure which has not adjusted to the forecast needs.  If we are adding stoves, water heaters, furnaces, and automobiles to the list of things which will use additional electricity then the grid has to be upgraded regionally, locally, and in MY HOME.  My electric service panel has exactly 2 remaining circuits (at 110 amps each).  How many does yours have?  Do you know how much it will cost to upgrade that sucker?  This Old House recently wrote, “The average cost of an electric panel upgrade is between $1,300 and $3,000.”  Your provider will also be expecting you to foot the bill to upgrade the grid to send that extra energy your way.  
2) The uncertainty of costs.  Our car insurance premium just arrived.  It is 25% higher than last year.  Our electric “premiums” keep rising as well.  As long as the increases are controlled by sensibilities and not greed, there should not be a problem.  However, I don’t trust that to be the case, do you?  I am already thinking of ways of reducing usage.

The articles are inane.  I don’t think I have mentioned that, have I?  First, the “suggestions” for finding better ways to cool down are heavy on the use of electricity.  (See 1 and 2 above).  Second, it seems there is “nothing new under the sun” when it comes to these articles.  I saw many of the same suggestions 15 years ago (I have always read a lot).  Every article talks about room fans and window fans and swamp coolers (ancient technology) with fans.  They also talk about turning off lights, closing the drapes, and waiting until the middle of the night to cook supper (not really, but most suggestions are similarly ridiculous).  The only “high tech” idea is to change to LED bulbs (a hundred year old technology that began to be commercially available 50 years ago).

I have a few better ideas, which people can do in their own homes or on their own property (assuming township or HOA rules allow).  The choices you make should NOT rely on the use of more electricity.  

1. Plant trees that will shade the house.  Shun fruit and berry trees.  You will need to know where underground utilities are.  It would also be good to determine the south-facing side of your home.  You will definitely want to avoid planting near your septic system or sewer lines.  AND, you should research where to plant trees so they won’t damage your foundation, break sidewalks, etc.  I chose a tree which roots deep rather than surface because it adds stability in winds and is less likely to damage foundations (male Maidenhair Ginkgo).  Deciduous trees are best because they shade in summer, but not in winter.  Use evergreens when you need a winter wind-break.
2. Cooling blankets are nice for the bed.  You don’t need much cooling to keep your skin comfortable for sleeping.  They wick away body heat and sweat and do not need electricity.
3. Dig a cooling room (like a root cellar).  It is simple and not very expensive.  You should know where buried utilities are.  Then all you need is a shovel, wheelbarrow, and the ability to build a cement block room on a solid foundation.  Safety should be considered because digging a deep pit can cause dangerous cave ins.  When outside air temperature is 100 degrees, the interior of the room (2′ underground) should be at least 30 degrees cooler with a battery operated LED light and a patio lounger.  (If properly constructed, actual root cellars should be even cooler and have a higher humidity.  However, a cooling room for people will not be as chilly or humid due to ventilation.)  It will need some ventilation to prevent exposure from too much carbon dioxide and radon.  A cellar like this can serve several purposes: Storm retreat, some vegetable storage, heat relief.  It may need a small battery-backup sump pump as well.
4. Metal roof.  It sounds incredible that a metal roof would help to cool a structure.  Yet it does. The metal is installed over a thin layer of insulative material.  The result is less heat absorbed into the attic. A cooler attic = a cooler home (State Farm says 10 – 25% less energy to cool the home).  My personal experience was that they also help in winter…the snow and ice don’t stick and requires no more energy to heat.  They last longer, are more wind resistant, resist wildfires (that home that survived on Maui had a metal roof), and are very recyclable.  Some home insurance programs give a discount.  Two downsides are that cell phones may not work as well and they are expensive to install.  (However, since they usually survive more than 50 years, they cost less than replacing shingle roofs several times).

My point is that we should move away from using MORE electricity to cool our homes.  Don’t bet that  we will have access to cheap, reliable electricity in the years to come.

Copyright 2023 Donald Whelpley

[PLEASE NOTE that Don is always open to discussing the thoughts and opinions he shares here and welcomes comments as shared in the comment section. He doesn’t use other social media platforms, as I do, and won’t see whatever you’d like to share with him if you post it elsewhere. ~ Sherry]

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