Mobius_Peverell t1_iv6d4l5 wrote
Reply to comment by ageispolispura in Researchers designed a transparent window coating that could lower the temperature inside buildings, without expending a single watt of energy. This cooler may lead to an annual energy saving of up to 86.3 MJ/m² or 24 kWh/m² in hot climates by mossadnik
The volume inside of buildings is so dwarfed by the volume outside that it really wouldn't make much of a difference unless you're right beside it. Much like air conditioning.
soks86 t1_iv6dl4j wrote
That and reflecting heat truly does not in any way add to the total heat in the system.
Air conditioning is an expenditure of energy, electrical, which does generate more heat in the system.
Another way to think about it. Running air conditioners is consuming ~15% of global energy. This window idea would save ~5% of that. Adding more air conditioners would increase the ~15%, not decrease it.
Mobius_Peverell t1_iv6dsom wrote
Very true. Though it may redistribute it somewhat. Slightly more down onto surfaces within the window's reflection, and less on the tops of buildings where a/c units generally are. Though again, all very minimal changes.
soks86 t1_iv6o3d1 wrote
Well that might reduce comfort at the street level in dense downtown areas. Huh... although larger buildings actually take cold and pass it down (no compressed gas pipes going the length of skyscrapers as leaks would be hell to fix and probably dangerous overall) that doesn't change the effect of letting the heat off of the windows build up between buildings while the insides of the buildings bring less cool air to the base.
Electric cars to the rescue!
chupo99 t1_iv7epmu wrote
In laymen terms: We already use AC(which requires energy and creates additional heat) to pump the heat back outside anyway so it's more efficient to have a glass that doesn't let the heat in to begin with.
kagamiseki t1_iv8qx0t wrote
Explained another way: the same amount of heat that goes into the house, will come out of the house eventually.
Only question is how much extra heat do we generate by running out AC units to pump the heat out?
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