Comments on: Frugal Thermodymics Part II: A Simple Cooling System http://pecuniarities.com/frugal-thermodymics-part-ii-a-simple-cooling-system/4173 'Tis not a crime to pinch a penny Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:50:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Penelope Pince http://pecuniarities.com/frugal-thermodymics-part-ii-a-simple-cooling-system/4173/comment-page-1#comment-5483 Penelope Pince Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:43:43 +0000 http://pecuniarities.com/?p=4173#comment-5483 1) We do have the windows open when the air outside is cooler than in 2) We do live in the desert where temperatures drop significantly at night 3) We use this system to cool the rooms where we're working or hanging out in - not the whole house Again, we're not saying this system works for everyone. It's a comparative system to the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OKHY2S?ie=UTF8&tag=ourfouwor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000OKHY2S" rel="nofollow">portable evaporative air cooler units</a>, which some people can use depending on where they live. Our energy bill last month was $40 compared to the usual $150-$400 a month when we used to have the air conditioner running. 1) We do have the windows open when the air outside is cooler than in

2) We do live in the desert where temperatures drop significantly at night

3) We use this system to cool the rooms where we’re working or hanging out in – not the whole house

Again, we’re not saying this system works for everyone. It’s a comparative system to the portable evaporative air cooler units, which some people can use depending on where they live.

Our energy bill last month was $40 compared to the usual $150-$400 a month when we used to have the air conditioner running.

]]> By: Tim http://pecuniarities.com/frugal-thermodymics-part-ii-a-simple-cooling-system/4173/comment-page-1#comment-5473 Tim Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:28:54 +0000 http://pecuniarities.com/?p=4173#comment-5473 This will only work if it is significantly colder at night than during the day where you can open windows at night to cool your house. As you have physics at play why your freezer dumps all the heat from making the ice into the room it's sitting in so if your windows are closed all the time then you are cooling the air that you just warmed by using the freezer... and seeing as there is significant energy losses in this system then it will only work in places like the desert where it drops 40-60 degrees day to night... places such as florida where it only changes like 5 degrees it's a bad plan. This will only work if it is significantly colder at night than during the day where you can open windows at night to cool your house. As you have physics at play why your freezer dumps all the heat from making the ice into the room it’s sitting in so if your windows are closed all the time then you are cooling the air that you just warmed by using the freezer… and seeing as there is significant energy losses in this system then it will only work in places like the desert where it drops 40-60 degrees day to night… places such as florida where it only changes like 5 degrees it’s a bad plan.

]]> By: Penelope Pince http://pecuniarities.com/frugal-thermodymics-part-ii-a-simple-cooling-system/4173/comment-page-1#comment-5366 Penelope Pince Tue, 19 May 2009 18:00:01 +0000 http://pecuniarities.com/?p=4173#comment-5366 Perhaps we should have made it more clear. 1) We put water in jugs and containers (family-size yogurt tubs with lids, gallon cooking oil bottle, quart-size soy sauce bottles, etc.) and freeze the jugs so we just put them back in the freezer at the end of the day when it's cooler and it takes less energy to make ice. Therefore, we just reuse the same water and it doesn't go to waste. 2) This system - like the portable evaporative air cooler units <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OKHY2S?ie=UTF8&tag=ourfouwor-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000OKHY2S" rel="nofollow">(like this one)</a> that use water or ice - works for dry climates such as the desert where we live. Humidity isn't a problem for us - in fact, dryness is a problem here. 3) If you have an ice maker in your fridge, which we've had before, we found that it always made more ice than we could personally consume. After sitting in the freezer a while, the ice would get freezer burn so it didn't taste good in drinks anyway. This system may not work for everyone, but it has been working well for us so far. We've had temperatures over 100 in the last few days, but have been able to stay cool this way. Compared to the costs of running an air conditioner in this climate (as high as $400 a month some summers), this system is saving us a lot. <abbr><em>Penelope Pince’s last blog post..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Pecuniarities/~3/UplkKvRI1rI/4147" rel="nofollow">What’s the silver lining in this recession?</a></em></abbr> Perhaps we should have made it more clear.

1) We put water in jugs and containers (family-size yogurt tubs with lids, gallon cooking oil bottle, quart-size soy sauce bottles, etc.) and freeze the jugs so we just put them back in the freezer at the end of the day when it’s cooler and it takes less energy to make ice. Therefore, we just reuse the same water and it doesn’t go to waste.

2) This system – like the portable evaporative air cooler units (like this one) that use water or ice – works for dry climates such as the desert where we live. Humidity isn’t a problem for us – in fact, dryness is a problem here.

3) If you have an ice maker in your fridge, which we’ve had before, we found that it always made more ice than we could personally consume. After sitting in the freezer a while, the ice would get freezer burn so it didn’t taste good in drinks anyway.

This system may not work for everyone, but it has been working well for us so far. We’ve had temperatures over 100 in the last few days, but have been able to stay cool this way. Compared to the costs of running an air conditioner in this climate (as high as $400 a month some summers), this system is saving us a lot.

Penelope Pince’s last blog post..What’s the silver lining in this recession?

]]> By: Money Beagle http://pecuniarities.com/frugal-thermodymics-part-ii-a-simple-cooling-system/4173/comment-page-1#comment-5364 Money Beagle Tue, 19 May 2009 13:54:09 +0000 http://pecuniarities.com/?p=4173#comment-5364 Interesting idea, and an A for effort, but I guess I have my doubts on this. First, there's going to be costs associated with the water to make the ice as well as the electricity for the ice maker to run. Second, most air conditioners work in part by removing humidity from the air. The plan that you're outlining is opposite of that, adding additional humidity. I suspect that the short term comfort from the cooled ice could be negated in the long run by the additional humidity that you're introducing. Interesting idea, and an A for effort, but I guess I have my doubts on this. First, there’s going to be costs associated with the water to make the ice as well as the electricity for the ice maker to run. Second, most air conditioners work in part by removing humidity from the air. The plan that you’re outlining is opposite of that, adding additional humidity. I suspect that the short term comfort from the cooled ice could be negated in the long run by the additional humidity that you’re introducing.

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