Is air conditioning making cities hotter?

Re:Is air conditioning making cities hotter? by BeetleB on Sunday September 10, 2023 @07:13PM (#37461037)

I 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.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Is air conditioning making cities hotter? by jjoonathan on Sunday September 10, 2023 @07:31PM (#37461139)

No, 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.

[ Parent | on HN ]