COOLING

NOTE:
The below factors are all important considerations.
Time and resources have not permitted me to provide you with all the basic details at this point. In the interim, consider the sub-headings as factors you can consider and research at will according to the relevancies mentioned on other pages of this site.

PASSIVE SOLAR COOLING:
Planning can reduce energy requirements and assist in providing comfort.

1. LANDSCAPING DESIGN which places deciduous trees on the side of the building receiving the most warm weather sunshine will help to cool the building by providing shade. When cooler weather arrives, the trees will lose their leaves and allow the Sun to assist in heating the dwelling.

2. ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO THE SUN is how much of the window area of the building is facing the prevailing direction of the Sun during the warm/hot weather season. If natural shading, solar reflective film, and solar window blankets are used, you may want to face most of your windows towards the Sun to take advantage of cool weather solar heating. If these are not an option or are not desired, facing the majority of window space away from the warm weather Sun will reduce the normal solar heating impact.

3. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN can include the quantity of building buried in the ground (warm weather cooling) relative to the amount of building above ground level (warm weather heating). Exterior colors if dark will absorb solar heat, whereas lighter colors will resist absorption, and, metallic silvery finishes will encourage reflective cooling. External surface texturing and lines will assist (if smooth and flowing) or resist (if coarse and irregular) normal air current cooling.

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5. ORIENTATION RELATIVE TO PREVAILING WINDS works with architectural design to take advantage of or limit this form of natural cooling. Forests, trees, landscaping or constructed windbreaks between the building and the prevailing wind will shelter the house and prevent warm weather cooling, UNLESS species and structures have been chosen which do not greatly limit the wind path during the warmer seasons.

   THE GREATEST COOLING INFLUENCE on the building will be gained if the longer sides of the building are parallel to the prevailing wind, AND, the edges or end are no so shaped as to restrict air flow from flowing around them and continuing down the longer sides. Moving air will absorb heat from surfaces which are hotter than it is. Strong, direct sunlight may heat surfaces to twice the degree temperature of the ambient passing air.
   
   

6. MOBILITY OF YOUR DWELLING will allow you to choose the optimum location characteristics for each season. Mobile homes, trailer homes, tent trailers, and recreational vehicles (RVs) afford the opportunity to reorient your dwelling according to season and depending upon the size of the lot you situate it on. Different lots may be desired for different seasons, depending upon availability, distance to and type of work, and cost.

   ZONING RESTRICTIONS, since 1970, for this type of housing have broadened and opened in many jurisdictions. Community acceptability, while once very low, has risen. Larger and larger numbers of the population have been forced to select such housing by virtue of its lower cost than permanent housing. Others have selected it as a retirement option for its lower maintenance and taxation than permanent housing. A capability for increased energy savings and comfort is a further reason for choice.
   
   

7. DIG DEEPER.
   By burying one or more levels of your dwelling, you will be assisting passive solar cooling by effectively shielding those floors from solar heating. Surrounded by considerable earth mass, and hopefully exterior insulated concrete walls and floor, heat received by the exposed floors can be moderated by circulating the air between floors. Large, slow moving ceiling fans above level interconnecting stairwells can facilitate movement of air to lower levels. A return air chute or plenum running from the lowest level to the uppermost one and having baffled gratings at each upper level can assist in moving cooler air upwards as the warmer air is forced down.

8. USE OF WINDOW BLANKETS AND SHUTTERS can block out, reflect, and even absorb and hold solar energy coming through a window. The composition of the blanket or shutter can consist of any of many fabrics, in one of more colors, with multiple layers, including different colorations for opposite sides of material, interspersed with filler having heat radiation absorptive or reflective properties. This is a large list of variables. In addition to everything fitting into a package sized for a selected window, there must be some means of mounting, removing, opening and closing the shutter.

   PLANS of simple-to-construct window blankets are available from many energy savings services and products outlets for a small fee. One may be constructed by quilting loose fiberglas batting material between linen or cotton panels of light color. A pull-cord pulley system can be attached from the top running down and attached to the length of the material to a bottom support to enable you to roll up the blanket in place when you want to look out of the window or allow indoor heat to escape, such as during the night. Many variations are possible and this is your opportunity to experiment and innovate for your own use.
   
   

MASS:

INSULATION:
Refer to previous page on insulating.

HEAT EXCHANGER:
Much power use and cost can be reduced by saving indoor heat or excluding outdoor heat when trading indoor stale and polluted air for outdoor fresh air. A heat exchanger does this. By passing one flow of air next to the other, separated by a good heat absorber and dispersion material, like metal, the warmer air flow heats the cooler one.

HOT WEATHER OPERATION finds the interior cooler air accepting heat from the incoming fresh air as the stale air is being expelled. This effectively assists in cooling the warmer fresh air before it is released into the building.

COLD WEATHER OPERATION finds the interior warmer air heating the incoming cooler fresh air as the stale air is being expelled. This effectively assists in warming the cooler fresh air before it is released into the building.

AIR FILTERS AND SCREENS may be attached to the inlet and outlet of the exchange unit and if so they are more effective if cleaned regularly and kept free of debris.

AIR CONDITIONING:
Keeping the temperature moderate in your surroundings reduces the need for your already overworked Reptilian brain structure to mount defensive reactions to cope with your body becoming too hot or too cold. Air conditioning systems can provide a benefit in this manner, IF they are not overused.

THERMAL SHOCK is a common health stress in city buildings.
Setting the thermostat more than 15 degree Centigrade or 20 degree Fahrenheit below the outdoors temperature is unwise. Doing so will force your body into defensive mode when you enter the building, and, again when you leave the building. The motivation in using air conditioning is more constructive if for moderation of climate rather than radical change.

FILTERS IN AIR CONDITIONERS can become serious health hazards.
Regardless of the size of the air conditioning unit, filters will collect dust, pollen, and spores. Failure to clean such filters on a regular basis encourages the growth of dust mites, mould spores, bacteria, and viruses in the filter medium. Once the filter is sufficiently clogged as to limit air flow, there will be a tendency for the air flow to disperse excess waste on the inner surface of the filter into the room. Respiratory illnesses, allergy symptoms and summer colds are promoted in this manner.

Cleaning a small unit filter is quite easy.

1. Turn off the unit to reduce dust dispersion;
2. Remove or open the cover over the filter;
3. Remove the filter and vacuum or brush away the surface dirt;
4. Wash the filter in warm soapy water;
5. Rinse the filter in warm water;
6. Dry the filter between paper towels;
7. Insert the filter back into the unit;
8. Close the filter cover;
9. Turn the unit back on.