The *real* environmental challenge for me...

[jducoeur]

In honor of the day *after* Earth Day, I notice what's really going to be my challenge as far as being good environmentally: the air conditioner.

I have *always* worked in air-conditioned offices -- that generally follows from being in the computer industry. So today I am reminded of the one interesting problem of my new office. I'm set up in the great room, which is comfy and all, and allows me to be a bit social with msmemory when she's home. But it's also basically an Easy-Bake Oven, with windows and skylights and no attic above it. Once the tree next to it comes into full leaf that will help, but the fact remains that it's the hottest place in the house.

We've got central air in the house, so the temptation is always going to be there to use it. But I'd prefer to learn where my limits really are, and not succumb to that too easily. Experimentation is called for. Between the ceiling fan and the cross-ventilation, I can get air movement. I don't have to dress in office clothes -- when I'm working from home, shorts at work are a perfectly fine option. For *some* kinds of work I can probably retreat to the family room downstairs (which is always far cooler), although there are some network issues that make that only a partial solution.

It'll be interesting to see where my tolerance really is. I'm sure I'll still be turning on the AC when it hits 90, but it would be nice to keep it off on the 80-odd degree days like today.

(All that said, I may have to investigate ways to move the build server downstairs to the basement, since it's not especially happy in this heat...)

Comments

[serakit.livejournal.com]

You go to Pennsic every year. Doesn't that get much warmer than 90? (Practically all I hear about is the Pennsic weather extremes.) And you do survive that...

I opted out of my window unit last year and did the entire summer with nothing more than a window fan in my bedroom.

[jducoeur]

An interesting point. OTOH, note that when Pennsic gets that hot, I suffer pretty badly. I get through it because I don't have much choice (well, short of going home), but I tend to sit around like a lump, rather than get much done. OTOOH, it's also notable that I deal better with the heat when I'm well-distracted by things that need to get done.

(Really, it's worst at night -- I sleep *very* poorly in heat and humidity, whether at Pennsic or home. So I'll probably still need the AC at night, but may be able to turn it mostly off during the day...)

[corwyn-ap.livejournal.com]

Skylights are a huge energy problem most of the year. They let in too much heat in the summer, and let out too much in the winter. You can cover them with something solid like opaque canvas outside, or with reflecting films inside. Don't bother with anything inside which isn't touching the glass.

Which direction do the windows face? West windows are your biggest problem for heat input. Shade them if you can. Growing hops up strings works nicely and gets you hops(!). South windows if appropriately overhung shouldn't be letting in much sun.

For days when it is a reasonable temperature outside, open high windows on the downwind side and twice that size of low ones on the upwind side. Augment with fans as needed (blow in on the low side, out on the high). Opening too many windows is counterproductive.

Make sure ceiling fans are set to blow air down. Only use them in rooms where you are currently residing.

A small fan directly blowing on you will cool you immensely.

For days when it is too hot outside, close the windows in the morning and open them after it has cooled off at night. Blow air up from the basement (make sure this doesn't create too much of a moisture problem in the basement).

Refrain from doing anything which produces moisture (showers, boiling water, etc.)

Put the big machines in the basement. A laptop only, on your desk.

Don't run the hot dry cycle on the dishwasher (or dryer), and run it only when it is cool.

CFLs.

If you do run the AC, use it only in the room you are in, if you can.

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Oh, Corwyn's note brings up a tangent: an elegant curtain which can isolate your room from the rest of the house. You can draw it back when you don't want it.

I'm putting in a lightweight one at our house soon, for overnight-guest visual privacy.

[jducoeur]

Hmm? I'm not sure I understand -- nearly every room in the house has doors that close...

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Most likely my error -- what I remember is a large archway without doors, between the living room and the open area with the kitchen/dining table. That is where I was thinking a curtain would be useful in thermally isolating your workspace.

But I've only been there (inside) once or twice, so I'm sure I've misremembered.

[jducoeur]

Yeah, there are actually doors in that archway. You don't remember them because they're usually all the way open, and thus inconspicuous. (There's even a sliding door in the window above the kitchen sink, so that the living room can be completely sealed off.)

Really, the problem there is the way the AC is zoned. There are only two zones, upstairs and downstairs. As I sort of vaguely alluded to in one of my comments, I would love to rezone so that the living room was its own zone, but that's not currently the case. So in practice, thermal isolation would only make my workspace *warmer* as things currently stand, since it is the most heat-absorbent part of the house...

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

Have you considered a window unit, effectively making your workspace its own zone?

[jducoeur]

I've pondered it. I don't love the idea: it would have to be a pretty big room AC to cool this room, and thus likely noisy, bulky and none too cheap to run itself.

If I decide that I care that much, the more sensible option would probably be to move the office downstairs. (Which is always much cooler by nature.) That's likely the smartest thing to do, but I have to ponder it a bit: this house was chosen largely because we *like* the great room particularly, so I'm a little reluctant not to work in it...

[jducoeur]

All good suggestions, although some of them aren't feasible without significant changes to the house itself. (Eg, the server can't go into the basement until I rewire so that it can get a proper Internet connection down there. And the AC is, sadly, currently zoned pretty broadly -- I'd like to fix that eventually, but that has to wait until we have the money to do so...)

[cellio]

What are the relative roles of heat and humidity in your discomfort? We installed a whole-house dehumidifier a few years back, and it's a big help. We also have AC, but the dehumidifier lets us raise the threshold for turning it on.

[jducoeur]

Interesting point: humidity is certainly a significant contributor. I'm not sure where we would *put* a full-scale dehumidifier, mind -- the heating "room" is already almost full to bursting -- but it's worth sticking in the back of my mind...

Home offices

[metageek.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm working in my office in the garage these days. From past experience, I know that I'll wish for air conditioning come the summer, but won't actually need it—there are plenty of large windows, and putting fans in them will provide a good cross-breeze.