Comments on: My Achilles Heel http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/ Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:50:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Excited State http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135205 Excited State Tue, 01 Sep 2009 16:55:30 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135205 Another green resource you might be interested in is buying electricity from alternative energy sources. Many power companies have options to buy some or all of your electricity this way, for a small premium. Here's a list of options in California: http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml?state=CA I definitely appreciate the sentiment about changing one's life habits to reduce your environmental footprint (I've been car-free for over a year), but I like this option to reduce my impact further, as well as support the development of alternative energy. As of this morning, I'm 100% wind powered! Another green resource you might be interested in is buying electricity from alternative energy sources. Many power companies have options to buy some or all of your electricity this way, for a small premium. Here’s a list of options in California: http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/buying/buying_power.shtml?state=CA

I definitely appreciate the sentiment about changing one’s life habits to reduce your environmental footprint (I’ve been car-free for over a year), but I like this option to reduce my impact further, as well as support the development of alternative energy. As of this morning, I’m 100% wind powered!

]]> By: Head in the Clouds… at Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135194 Head in the Clouds… at Asymptotia Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:32:48 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135194 [...] the unpleasantness going on at ground level for a moment (see the four previous posts, 1, 2, 3, 4), it seems that there is something else going on that’s actually quite fascinating. I went [...] [...] the unpleasantness going on at ground level for a moment (see the four previous posts, 1, 2, 3, 4), it seems that there is something else going on that’s actually quite fascinating. I went [...]

]]> By: Smoke at Asymptotia http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135179 Smoke at Asymptotia Mon, 31 Aug 2009 00:20:54 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135179 [...] « My Achilles Heel [...] [...] « My Achilles Heel [...]

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135177 Clifford Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:38:58 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135177 Hi Nige, I've looked into the solar option (not for A/C specifically, but in general). Future project, but right now installation and so forth of a system that connects to the grid is simply too expensive compared to just using one's brain to use electricity less. I don't believe that eco-friendly necessarily means go out and buy new stuff to allow me to carry on as usual, as seems to be the trend. I simply have no interest in over-using A/C when there are ways of keeping a building cool (unusual conditions like the very still heat of the last few days - combined with fire smoke/ash affecting air - aside) by thinking a bit about things - see P.S. above. It is like rushing out to buy a Prius or other hybrid (as many have) while continuing to drive everywhere unnecessarily to do the simplest errands one could do by walking or biking or using public transport. I do have a plan to someday soon build and install some limited solar-powered systems myself (ones that does not connect to the grid and hence need regulators and inspectors and so forth) to run less crucial systems like patio lighting and so forth. (I already have some but will extend it...) Yes I can go to the seaside. And I do form time to time. It is nice, but that part of town does not interest me enough to go the many miles on a regular basis just to see the sea. Besides, I've stuff to do... Best, -cvj Hi Nige,

I’ve looked into the solar option (not for A/C specifically, but in general). Future project, but right now installation and so forth of a system that connects to the grid is simply too expensive compared to just using one’s brain to use electricity less. I don’t believe that eco-friendly necessarily means go out and buy new stuff to allow me to carry on as usual, as seems to be the trend. I simply have no interest in over-using A/C when there are ways of keeping a building cool (unusual conditions like the very still heat of the last few days - combined with fire smoke/ash affecting air - aside) by thinking a bit about things - see P.S. above. It is like rushing out to buy a Prius or other hybrid (as many have) while continuing to drive everywhere unnecessarily to do the simplest errands one could do by walking or biking or using public transport.

I do have a plan to someday soon build and install some limited solar-powered systems myself (ones that does not connect to the grid and hence need regulators and inspectors and so forth) to run less crucial systems like patio lighting and so forth. (I already have some but will extend it…)

Yes I can go to the seaside. And I do form time to time. It is nice, but that part of town does not interest me enough to go the many miles on a regular basis just to see the sea. Besides, I’ve stuff to do…

Best,

-cvj

]]> By: Nige Cook http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135176 Nige Cook Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:22:31 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135176 Just wondering how much power your air conditioning uses? Would it be feasible in principle to power it during the day (when the sun is up) using solar cells on the roof to make it eco-friendly? Can you use it to just chill a single room, or does it automatically chill the whole house? Can't you escape to the seaside when it's hot? Are there any cool breezes from the Pacific or is it worse at the beach? In desperation I bought a portable ~ 1kW Amcor unit here in the UK during the heatwave in July 2002 but it could only just about keep a small room fairly cool with the hot air output tube sticking out of a gap the window and the rest of the gap plugged with rubber foam packing and tape, and the curtains drawn to keep the sunshine out. However, the noise it made in the room gave you a headache pretty quickly, so you couldn't sleep and it was a choice between getting a headache or getting heatstroke. Luckily, I've only had to use it once since 2002, and not this year. Just wondering how much power your air conditioning uses? Would it be feasible in principle to power it during the day (when the sun is up) using solar cells on the roof to make it eco-friendly? Can you use it to just chill a single room, or does it automatically chill the whole house? Can’t you escape to the seaside when it’s hot? Are there any cool breezes from the Pacific or is it worse at the beach?

In desperation I bought a portable ~ 1kW Amcor unit here in the UK during the heatwave in July 2002 but it could only just about keep a small room fairly cool with the hot air output tube sticking out of a gap the window and the rest of the gap plugged with rubber foam packing and tape, and the curtains drawn to keep the sunshine out. However, the noise it made in the room gave you a headache pretty quickly, so you couldn’t sleep and it was a choice between getting a headache or getting heatstroke. Luckily, I’ve only had to use it once since 2002, and not this year.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135175 Clifford Sun, 30 Aug 2009 17:24:13 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135175 Wow, today is significantly different. The whole region is covered in a blue haze, and some amounts of dust and ash have begun to collect on things. Yes, this is definitely an indoors day! -cvj Wow, today is significantly different. The whole region is covered in a blue haze, and some amounts of dust and ash have begun to collect on things. Yes, this is definitely an indoors day!

-cvj

]]> By: IrrationalPoint http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135174 IrrationalPoint Sun, 30 Aug 2009 09:07:20 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135174 Ah Texan Augusts with no AC...I remember them well. The parentals didn't like to run the AC at night because it was noisy. My sister and I used to run flannels under the cold tap before bed and then put them on our foreheads. It actually cools you down a lot. (Although I distinctly remember one school year that I had to take a sweater to school throughout the warmer months because my homeroom teacher couldn't work out how to turn off the AC in the classroom...there we were towards the end of August, in Texas, FREEZING, despite it being about 105F!) When I've lived in really hot places with no AC (India, Central America), the single biggest comfort-increasing adjustment, in my experience, has been dressing appropriately. I'm sure you know this, but most people don't realise how much difference it makes wearing clothing that is properly *loose* rather than just not-seriously-clingy. I don't know how my family in Latin America manage in skinny jeans and fitted tops in the height of the afternoon, but I do know that I can cope reasonably happily in humid 40C weather in long sleeves as long as it's a loose salwar kameez I'm wearing, and not jeans or anything fitted. Of course, in Scotland I have the opposite problem...even in August I cannot leave the house without a jacket. --IP Ah Texan Augusts with no AC…I remember them well. The parentals didn’t like to run the AC at night because it was noisy. My sister and I used to run flannels under the cold tap before bed and then put them on our foreheads. It actually cools you down a lot. (Although I distinctly remember one school year that I had to take a sweater to school throughout the warmer months because my homeroom teacher couldn’t work out how to turn off the AC in the classroom…there we were towards the end of August, in Texas, FREEZING, despite it being about 105F!)

When I’ve lived in really hot places with no AC (India, Central America), the single biggest comfort-increasing adjustment, in my experience, has been dressing appropriately. I’m sure you know this, but most people don’t realise how much difference it makes wearing clothing that is properly *loose* rather than just not-seriously-clingy. I don’t know how my family in Latin America manage in skinny jeans and fitted tops in the height of the afternoon, but I do know that I can cope reasonably happily in humid 40C weather in long sleeves as long as it’s a loose salwar kameez I’m wearing, and not jeans or anything fitted.

Of course, in Scotland I have the opposite problem…even in August I cannot leave the house without a jacket.

–IP

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135173 Clifford Sun, 30 Aug 2009 07:10:34 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135173 Hey Wendy, No I am not nuts... you are <em>way</em> closer than I am! (But things are getting worse out there at the fires, so the reach of the smoke and ash is getting wider). The news is that I ran the A/C earlier for a bit to clear out the trapped heat of the day, and yes with some vents closed. But no, at this point, I don't think I need the protection from smoke and so forth that you do! I'm not that close... but the situation is evolving. Don't worry - I'll keep evaluating how much to use the A/C as things evolve. I won't sit here choking for the sake of it, but at the same time I am not a fan of just having A/C running all the time because of a little discomfort. It is a balancing act... Cheers, -cvj Hey Wendy,

No I am not nuts… you are way closer than I am! (But things are getting worse out there at the fires, so the reach of the smoke and ash is getting wider). The news is that I ran the A/C earlier for a bit to clear out the trapped heat of the day, and yes with some vents closed. But no, at this point, I don’t think I need the protection from smoke and so forth that you do! I’m not that close… but the situation is evolving. Don’t worry - I’ll keep evaluating how much to use the A/C as things evolve. I won’t sit here choking for the sake of it, but at the same time I am not a fan of just having A/C running all the time because of a little discomfort. It is a balancing act…

Cheers,

-cvj

]]> By: Wendy yeh http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135172 Wendy yeh Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:59:22 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135172 It's 100 degrees outside and the air is filled with smoke and ash. Are you nuts? Open windows with current fire conditions makes for very bad health conditions. Noble to be green, but your A/C will help to clear out particulate matter from your house, and can't you close off the vents in your unused rooms anyway? At least get an area room fan to move the air around. Sorry, there's ash covering my car, and I can almost see the flames and smoke from my house, but then again, I'm way closer to the fire than you. It’s 100 degrees outside and the air is filled with smoke and ash. Are you nuts? Open windows with current fire conditions makes for very bad health conditions. Noble to be green, but your A/C will help to clear out particulate matter from your house, and can’t you close off the vents in your unused rooms anyway? At least get an area room fan to move the air around. Sorry, there’s ash covering my car, and I can almost see the flames and smoke from my house, but then again, I’m way closer to the fire than you.

]]> By: Clifford http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135170 Clifford Sun, 30 Aug 2009 04:00:59 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135170 Hi Sara! Well done on the recycling initiative. NO, don't get a Prius, get a Tesla1!! Justin - Exactly! Jude... uninsulated? Does that mean heavy heating bills in the Winter? (Also, see the P.S. in the post.) -cvj Hi Sara! Well done on the recycling initiative. NO, don’t get a Prius, get a Tesla1!!

Justin - Exactly!

Jude… uninsulated? Does that mean heavy heating bills in the Winter? (Also, see the P.S. in the post.)

-cvj

]]> By: Sara T. http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135169 Sara T. Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:20:49 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135169 Is your AC the heat-pump kind, Clifford, like at McCulloch? Those are less polluting. I do prefer open windows myself, but make the AC choice for allergies sometimes, heat others. Seeing's how I only drive a few x/wk and recycle (we started it at McCulloch last year, Michelle A., Brian, Scales and I got it going! Don't know if I told you) I don't feel too guilty about the AC today! Sara T., driving a rental Prius and quite liking it! May be the next vehicle.... Is your AC the heat-pump kind, Clifford, like at McCulloch? Those are less polluting.
I do prefer open windows myself, but make the AC choice for allergies sometimes, heat others.
Seeing’s how I only drive a few x/wk and recycle (we started it at McCulloch last year, Michelle A., Brian, Scales and I got it going! Don’t know if I told you) I don’t feel too guilty about the AC today!
Sara T., driving a rental Prius and quite liking it! May be the next vehicle….

]]> By: Jude http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135168 Jude Sun, 30 Aug 2009 01:11:04 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135168 This weird house I live in doesn't have air conditioning either, but something about the combination of cinderblock construction largely uninsulated except for a layer of polyurethane foam my dad has sprayed on it back in the 1970s means that's completely workable and it's mostly comfortable enough. It seems that since the article is due, the air conditioning is essential. This weird house I live in doesn’t have air conditioning either, but something about the combination of cinderblock construction largely uninsulated except for a layer of polyurethane foam my dad has sprayed on it back in the 1970s means that’s completely workable and it’s mostly comfortable enough. It seems that since the article is due, the air conditioning is essential.

]]> By: justin http://asymptotia.com/2009/08/29/my-achilles-heel/comment-page-1/#comment-135167 justin Sun, 30 Aug 2009 00:41:14 +0000 http://asymptotia.com/?p=4567#comment-135167 want ... to write ... comment, but ... it's too ... too ... phbbbltttzzzthh. want … to write … comment, but … it’s too … too … phbbbltttzzzthh.

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