Air conditioning.

I have had someone ask what my approach to climate control, within Plan B, will be. [Thanks Peter].

The overall plan in this house is to demonstrate the efficacy of passive cooling systems by making the entire house independent of mechanical air conditioning units---with one small exception.

The house will be constructed off the ground. This allows the winds to pass underneath the house and to cool the floor. The house is oriented directly along the prevailing trade winds, so we can depend on those winds blowing perpendicularly to the house's breadth.

The roof of the house will have two walls, creating an air space in between the two, for the same breeze to flow through, and to act as insulation, without relying on toxic materials.

There is a gap between the roof and the walls of the house, with operable windows and screens. These gap allows air to flow through even when the windows are closed.

The house is a single depth. This mean that opening windows and doors will allow the winds to pass easily through. They will not get frustrated in deep hallways.

The bedroom itself is partly underground. It is the only earth moving we are doing. The depth of the cut into the earth should cool at least two of the walls of the bedroom to the uniform 54 degrees of the earth.

There will be overhead fans, which can be used to move air. Moving air feels 10 degrees cooler than still air. This is a mechanical intervention, of course, but not invasive, and I hope to have the fans solar powered as soon as solar panels are scalable.

The exception is the last room of the house, which is glassed off, and which is climate controlled for the purpose of running an office or computing. It is the humidity, rather than the heat, which is the danger, but the best way to control that humidity will be the availability of an air conditioner in that bedroom/office, which can be turned on, but which cools only that room.

Loyal reader Peter P addresses his concerns with solar:

"In regards to solar: I would love it, but not making enough sense to me now. I can see massive improvements in Solar coming in price and efficiency and that makes me want to wait. Plus, I am counting on CAFTA to drop import taxes. All that may make it a real deal when I am ready. Also, I want a pool, so that takes a bit of power. If electric is free and the timing is right, I might do Solar as for tree hugging, and backup electric so I don’t have to live like a hippie."

Peter is dead on. As much as the media hype might lead you to believe otherwise, solar is not scalable. The people and grocery stores and businesses that you see in the US making the conversion are only able to economically do so because of the subsidies and tax breaks offered US citizens. The US as a market for solar almost does not show up on the world map of solar power consumption. Over 80 % of solar panels are sold to Asia. That is because solar v. oil, and solar is going to lose, but solar v. darkness, and solar wins. I mean, these people have no grid to rely on, so solar makes sense, because it is the only option.

I want solar, and I expect that we will see oil hit 120 dollars a barrel or more if the dollar keeps dropping, but right now, it is not the most efficient choice. I believe that green is not only the morally correct choice, but that it will prove to be the economically correct choice also going forward.

As an aside, Peter also tells me of a house he saw in Tambor which cools the pantry, so that produce lasts longer. Interesting idea that.