Archive for the Solar Air Conditioning category.
Oct 7
Can you decorate your morning? Of course you can. Heck, you can decorate a pet ferret if you’re so inclined, although I’d be sending some men in white coats your way if I saw you do it. “Morning rooms” exist, they rock, and in the grand words of my old high school English professor, “‘nuf said on the subject”.
Lots of people have never even heard the expression “morning room” and those who have usually envision a room residing somewhere in Bruce Wayne Manor, right next to the secret door that leads to the Bat Cave. In fact many homes built after the turn of the last century have an area that can be used as a breakfast nook. The difference between a breakfast nook and a morning room is essentially flowers, comfortable chairs, good coffee, and pompous attitude, so potentially you already own a “morning room”, it just has an identity crisis. Now if only you had a butler named Alfred and a secret lair.
So, if you’re following along, one can consider the “morning room” as the classier incarnation of that tried and true “breakfast nook”. This epiphany - of course - assumes that you make significantly less than $10, 000, 000.00 British Pounds per year. If you are a rich bugger, then the concept of “morning room” can contain an entirely different meaning.
The purpose of a morning room is to have a sanctuary within your private house or establishment - where people can sit, talk, relax, ponder, e.t.c… during daylight hours. Also, genetically speaking, it is within our human nature to seek sunlight upon waking so as to acclimatize our bodies and minds for the day ahead. In that respect a morning room is a perfect spot to nibble a quick bite, grab a coffee and gather your thoughts.
- Factoid: In my relentless pursuit to inform and educate, I’ve come to discover that morning rooms are - for the most part - designed for morning use. I tell you fair and gentle reader, I leave no stone unturned, no weed unearthed.
So if by now, you still are unclear as to what a morning room is, I’ll quote my 16 year old son and then … ‘nuf said on the subject.
“It’s kind of .. like… just a place where you can chill and munch out before school.”
So how do you appropriately adorn and decorate a morning room? Of course this all comes down to your personal style, but there are a few things worth noting:
- Darker wall colors will absorb natural light and heat, so they can be useful to keep your guests from feeling as if they’re sitting inside a solar flare. The opposite can be said for your color choice of furnishings, because incessant sunlight can heat up a dark seat like a frying pan.
- Any respective artwork will want to have some darker shadings, perhaps even textures, to make it feature more within the natural light surrounding it.
- Window coverings - if at all necessary - should be sheer and loose, having a translucent quality. This can be achieved using any open weaved decorative fabric.
- Certain high-light plants can give you that “outdoorsy” feeling, should you be so inclined. Larger floor plants work if your “nook” is on the larger scale. Plants such as Norfolk Island Pine, Weeping Fig, even Fiddle-leaved Fig plants can work well in bright, sunlit areas as accent pieces. Otherwise, you can achieve a similar feel by utilizing a good soft toned *flower arrangement as a center piece on your table.
A morning room is easy to decorate as long as you start by defining it as a “mini-dining room for sun worship”. You will of course need an appropriate table - I prefer smallish - with a few comfortable chairs surrounding it. I wouldn’t go for a table that sits too high vertically; instead try to find something that’s in between dining table height and coffee table height. I have seen a few very attractive morning rooms with typical dining room chairs being used, but my personal preference is to bargain hunt for some good quality high seated, cushioned chairs. These are not the soft and cushy flop chairs you find in a master bedroom or living room, but a kind of hybrid dining chair that adds lots of padding and some “sink in” value. They can be found at any furniture gallery worth a salt. I keep harping on the chairs because seating is one of the more important elements of a good “morning room”. It should be more comfortable than a typical dining ensemble, and should enable you to sit upright for a spot of tea as well as be comfortable when leaning back to meditate on the coming day.
Your morning room will certainly want to face the rising sun, otherwise forget a morning room and get a light therapy machine. (I’m kidding, I think) Assuming your room IS guided to glory by the rising of the sun, it will be well lit by a natural light source and this creates two potentially negative effects on the room:
- Temperature: sunlight produces quite a bit of excess heat, more-so when accumulated in small spaces. You will want to try and offset this with a powerful, yet quiet ceiling fan or a small Air Conditioning unit. Floor model fans are usually miserable in a small room as their use often results in a napkin blowing Festival Of Doom. Unless you’re prepared to tie everything in the nook down, forget a standing fan for cooling. It’s just not really conducive to a relaxing morning coffee when your chasing around the sports section. Get your cardio workouts in the gym, I say.
- With natural light, aesthetic imperfections are magnified at least 436, 799 (and 1/3rd) times. OK I’m not so sure about the statistic, but I can tell you that fading paint or a chipped fruit bowl seem to have a Rock Star Spotlight on it in a morning room. Room dust can also hinder your morning tranquility, as it just seems to hang in the air, reflecting the sunlight and reminding you of just exactly that which is landing on your breakfast bagel and eggs. As such, you will want to keep the room well maintained and as dust free as possible.
*For full disclosure I have to say that when I commence to feats of decorating prowess, the rule is to never use real flowers in small spaces, using nooks as the prime example. Flower arrangements can produce pollen and irritate sinuses, not the best way for someone to start their day. If you have guests occasionally and you don’t wish to keep a candy dish of antihistamines near by, lose the FTD credit card already. Flowers can also significantly add to dust in a small area, even when kept perfectly. So if you choose to go the route of having a flower arrangement, spend a little extra and get a nice faux flower deal and put some aroma therapy candles around for the scent of lavender, Jasmine, or my personal favorite, burgamot.
Dollars to donuts says that if you have a detached private home there is an area available that you can designate a “morning room”. If not, oh well, no loss really, after all sunlight is highly overrated. (I’m kidding again, I think) If you feel like taking a break from eating toast on your way to work however, recon your home for that one place pointing towards the big, bright and shiny ball in the sky, and start your creative juices to build your own little piece of morning nirvana. Me, I hate mornings, even when they come after noon. I’ll stick to the bat cave, thank you very much.
Peter F Gibson
http://www.articlesbase.com/interior-design-articles/how-to-rename-your-breakfast-nook-746523.html
Sep 28
Our government wants to give me a monetary incentive (tax rebate) to put up solar panels on my house in Florida. I currently have large oak trees that shade my house thereby reducing the energy use for Air Conditioning but also preventing me from putting up solar panels. If I go along with the government plan, I will cut down the oak trees so I can go solar (Cut down the trees to go "green"?!!!). There are several issues I must deal with here:
1) Cutting down those beautiful old oaks will make make the various fauna homeless.
2) Those oaks pull a lot of CO2 from the air. Won’t I get a net increase of greenhouse gases by cutting down and burning (or just natural decaying) them?
3) Solar is a BIG dollar investment that might be wiped out with the next hurricane. (No one makes 120mph wind solar panels)
Why is our government so short-sighted and simple-minded over this "global warming" issue?
Keeping the Oak trees and building solar panels are indeed great ways to become earth-friendly.As you say,the oak trees produce carbon dioxide and also shade for your home.The Oak trees are indeed a great benefit for yourself as well as the environment.However,the solar panels built can help you to save electricity and as well save the natural resources used for electricity.Both have their own benefits.
You can either choose both if you have enough spaces or either cut down some old Oak trees and build the solar panel. 
Sep 25
We want to replace a low-quality hollow-core door in our 1899 cottage with an antique solid exterior-rated door with 10 panes of beveled glass but are concerned about energy-efficiency.
We live in San Francisco and almost never use heating and never use Air Conditioning. We both agree that the door with the panes would be much more attractive.
I think that the glass-paned door could provide us with passive solar heating through the panes (we don’t have any windows on that side of the house), but my sweetie thinks that the heat loss from the panes would negate any solar heating effect.
Is the hollow-core door more energy-efficient than the solid door with glass? And if so, how much more? Or is weatherstripping more of an issue?
Thanks!
It depends on a number of factors. A holow-core door can be very energy-efficient (the airspace acts as an insulator)–but it has to be a good quality door designed with this in mind (the hollow interior has to be sealed.
A solid wood door is very good, though–but the panes should be "double-panes (two layers of glass with an insulating space between.
However–for doors, the most important factor is usually not the door itself, but the frame and weatherstripping. The frame/weatherstripping need to be in good condition and form a seal (on all four sides–don’t forget the bottom) or you will have so much leakage that you might as well nt bother with making the door energy efficient.
As for passive heating via the panes–that will work in principle (it’s essentially how a greenhouse works. I’m not sure how much heat you’lll get from that, though.
Sep 22
when I drive it around with the air conditioning turned on? I hear Hummers have great Air Conditioning systems. I will need one since ecofreaks keep saying it will be really warm this summer.
All of the planets have global warming right now.
Most global warming theorists have never heard of the term "solar variability". Solar variability caused the earth to leave the ice age in less than 20 years, and it caused the earth to have a little ice age several hundred years ago.
NASA: "Rapid changes between ice ages and warm periods (called interglacials) are recorded in the Greenland ice sheet. Occurring over ONE OR TWO DECADES, the warming of the Earth at the end of the last ice age happened much faster than the rate of change of the Earth’s orbit."
NASA link: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Paleoclimatology_Evidence/Images/gisp2_temperature.gif
Hey that’s great
I heard a report on the radio this morn.
true end cost of Hummer Vs Prius
this includes manufacturing cost, gas cost for the life of the veh. Hummer life 300,000 miles - Prius life 100,000 miles
total cost over life of Hummer 1.85 per mile
" " " " " Prius 3.25 per mile
Sep 15
http://www.ussunlight.com
Professional grade solar powered attic fan uses no electricity.
The Sunfan Professional Series - Roof Mount Attic Fan is designed to reduce heat build-up in your attic in the summer and remove harmful moisture in the winter. It’s commercial grade, heavy duty construction provides up to 25% more power than other fans, providing better circulation and improved airflow in your attic space. One fan can ventilate up to 1250 square feet and lowers the attic temperature so your Air Conditioning won’t have to run so long to cool your home. By running year-round, it can keep your attic space drier by removing moisture in the winter, reducing condensation and preventing the growth of harmful mold and mildew.
Cools in the Summer
During the summer, the Roof Mount Attic Fan vents the hot air out of your attic and keeps it closer to the temperature outside. Your air conditioner won’t have to run so long to cool the inside of your home.
Prevents mold and mildew in the winter
In the winter, warm moist air rises from the inside of your home and collides with the cold underside of the roof. The Roof Mount Attic Fan provides the air circulation that prevents the moist air from condensing on the surface. Keeping your attic drier.
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Sep 10
Here’s a little idea I though might help everyone out in Iraq a little: How about if the US mass produces solar panels that are small enough to carry (maybe one foot by three feet) that have a regular power outlet on them to the Iraqis? We could send convoys to the people waiting in line to buy gas and give each person one free solar panel. Why?
1. A lot of people are buying gas to run generators for Air Conditioning, not to fuel vehicles.
2. It would help reduce the gas lines if people only needed gas for cars instead of their generators too.
3. It would help reduce the fighting over the power grid if people didn’t need the grid for their own electrical power.
My theory is, once every family in Iraq has enough of these panels that they don’t even care about the power grid (during the daytime anyway) it would be much easier to fix the power grid. Maybe these solar panels could even connect to and add to the power grid.
excellent idea but they are expensive …
Sep 8
AirCoolCalifornia- is a quality home improvement service provider, Heating and Air Conditioning, Solar Panels and Appliances, Plumbing and Electrical.
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Technorati Tags: air conditioner, Air Conditioner repair, Air Cool California, Appliance repair, Appliances, Heater repair, hvac, Solar Panels
Sep 7
I have seen several companies that produce a air condition unit that runs entirely on solar power. The house I am cooling will be under 500 square feet. It will be top of the line insulation and windows.
What is the cost of these units (for this size house) when compared to traditional central air systems? Costs should include installation, permits, running the ducts etc etc.
here are some companies:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMP0BiAt-yU
http://www.coolerado.com/
http://www.solcool.net/
hey give us link to these companies , I don`t believe it.
Edit,, The first 2 links are the same , the "coolorado"
The sales pitch Is very misleading indeed. Leading people to believe it is a real A/C which it is not. What it is , is an evaporative cooler. Informally know as a"swamp cooler" and is has been used in arid climates for over a century. They are simply using a 600 watt solar array to power the fan motor. and maybe a water pump. Or the that may be powered by the water system pressure. It could work very well for your 500′ space.
I have lived in a house in So. Calif that had a swamp cooler and it was comfortable. They are those box mounted on roofs of houses, you prob know what they are.
I do not believe that what they said that infomercial about a 3000′ house. If you listen to again with a critical ear. You see how they choose their words very carefully as not to just tell you it is an evaporative cooler. Which is just fine as i said, but that is what it is. A solar powered fan. And a fan powered with 250 to 600 watts would not move enough air though duct work for 3000′ but could blow air into a 500′ space.
The other one is Battery power system
This one is a real but typical "split system A/C" ( google that if you don`t know what it is) . powered by 48 volts DC instead of AC power. The only difference is ,The motor and electronics work from DC power and not AC power . Other than that is like all other A/C units ,not a solar powered A/C unit but a "battery powered " 48 volt A/C system The batteries are then solar charged. And are also charged with a diesel Generator during times of low solar output .
Those type units are used where someone has built a very large solar array with a huge battery bank and computer controller. That would power the whole house or building.
Those type of systems cost 30,000 to 60,000 dollars just for solar power and battery bank required. You can read more about those type if you research solar power houses.
I think the swamp cooler would suit your purpose ( 500 sq ft ) if you live in an arid climate. As to the cost ? just call them and ask. You wont need much ducting in that small space .
Sep 1
Peak Moment 145: John Weber’s Boise, Idaho house with south-facing windows rarely needs heat and never Air Conditioning. Meet a man who has built a passive-solar house with solar electric power and solar hot water; plus a solar-powered electric car — and who rides a bike! With photovoltaics tied to the grid, he sells surplus electricity back to the power company. John shows how he converted his “Sun Car” from a junked Festiva to all-electric, with added solar panels on top to extend its range. Ride with us - and hear how quiet it is!
Duration : 0:27:40
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Technorati Tags: Electric, energy, local, passive, power, Solar, vehicle
Sep 1
Peak Moment 145: John Weber’s Boise, Idaho house with south-facing windows rarely needs heat and never Air Conditioning. Meet a man who has built a passive-solar house with solar electric power and solar hot water; plus a solar-powered electric car — and who rides a bike! With photovoltaics tied to the grid, he sells surplus electricity back to the power company. John shows how he converted his “Sun Car” from a junked Festiva to all-electric, with added solar panels on top to extend its range. Ride with us - and hear how quiet it is!
Duration : 0:27:40
Read the rest of this entry »
Technorati Tags: Electric, energy, local, passive, power, Solar, vehicle
