This Incredible Tool (preventing insolation) That Our Ancestors Used To Keep Cool In The Summer.
Yeah, they cost money. So does installing air-conditioning. But they use no energy ( that’d would be bad for fossil energy-producers).
Just make me a goddamned hobbit hole that has less need for temperature management.
So, I’m lucky enough to have built a house, and earthworks are expensive. A hobbit hole would cost as much as the house we live in, without the actual building, just the hole.
I live in a garden level apartment (I think, it’s mostly underground with one exterior wall above ground for windows, set into a hill) and it’s extremely energy efficient. We do have to use dehydrators, but that can be done in very energy-efficient ways.
The apartments above us are significantly less energy efficient, so the big drawback I see is around housing density, which is probably a bigger issue than heating/cooling energy, but I don’t actually know.
Horses for courses. Every area is different. Some places have geothermal but also need constant heating, so a geothermal town heating system with high density makes sense. Other places are near the equator, and actually need to sink as much heat as possible year round, so separate housing with a lot of greenery to keep everything cool works better. In other places heat and cold is mild so good passive thermal design works well.
Where I live for example, it’s good to prioritise air flow and thermal management, something which is significantly harder in an apartment. Having said that, during particularly cold nights, an apartment actually works better (but this is for a month in the year).
Is there an awning form factor that doesn’t block a significant part of the view? Seems like most the examples in the video blocked a lot of the window when looking straight out.
he mentioned that there are ones you can easily put down when you don’t need them and said that if awnings were to become a thing he’s sure they’d become smartified with some iot bullshit.
Biggest issue is that movable awnings would be more fragile, and fixed awnings are ugly and permanently block light.
Not sure they’re coming back anytime soon.
Retractable awnings are VERY common in many parts of Europe, and they make a huge difference. I’ve got one on both balconies for my apartment, mine are electric and controlled by Home Assistant, I program them according to the position of the sun. You can install an anemometer to retract them automatically and protect them from damage.
You can buy smart awnings at German home improvement stores
https://www.bauhaus.info/gelenkarmmarkisen/solid-elements-gelenkarmmarkise-berlin-solar/p/30790441
At my parents old home, I helped install a retractable one that covered the patio.
Certainly more expensive than a basic awning, but excellent utility. And handy for the times a storm/high winds are going to be coming through.
Some years later, the switch wasn’t working properly, so while fixing it I use the guts of a garage door opener (another replacement, broken motor) to use the wireless remote as a second relay control for the awning. This was about 15-20 years ago, I’d bet there are more options today. Even just ones with a dry contact you can more easily wire into a system.
What about instead painting your entire house black which is apparently the style in Australia
Why though? Do you guys hate having a small electricity bill?
While some parts of the world are trying to have lighter coloured asphalt.
In the parts that are actually hot, the new builds are generally off-white brick or double-brick buildings with white Colorbond roofs (an Aus brand of corrugated steel)
You do get the odd house with a dark roof, and when you go past them everyone points and laughs at how silly and uncomfortable they must be.
Oh hey, I’m watching this one rn by coincidence lmao I just wish it was one of his longer videos
I think I want to buy some awnings