Did you know that living in a hot climate (e.g. American southwest or Florida) uses on average way less overall energy (cooling is more efficient than heating as usually the delta that needs to be achieved is lower and for shorter periods)? https://hachyderm.io/@thomasfuchs/112649856491268447
@chris@thomasfuchs Great point. The key is to keep air from ever getting too hot. But the exchanger that sits outside still has the problem. Earth homes! Live under dirt!
@thomasfuchs It is my understanding this is one of the big concerns with global warming, AC is only good for 25-30 F lowering. So they won’t be effective as we warm and now northern populations will have both hot summers and arctic blasts in winter. Just more energy usage across the board.
@SloanStudio@thomasfuchs IIRC: this means 25-30 degrees off *intake* air. If it recirculates already-cool air from inside the house it can continue to go lower if the house is well insulated.
@SloanStudio@chris I guarantee you that spending $10,000-$20,000 to add a heat pump and ducting (perhaps wall-mount minisplits) is a lot cheaper than building entirely new underground homes
@thomasfuchs@chris Right. Newer heat pumps. We have a lot of work to do, especially in areas that never had AC before we have the opportunity to replace heating and add cooling. Just a lot of $$$. And all the storms are just going to get worse. Build your earth ship well above the flood zone!