ageispolispura t1_iv69dtt wrote
Really interesting. Wouldn't it make outdoor temps higher? Does it really reflect infrared heat and UV rays to space?
Mobius_Peverell t1_iv6d4l5 wrote
The volume inside of buildings is so dwarfed by the volume outside that it really wouldn't make much of a difference unless you're right beside it. Much like air conditioning.
soks86 t1_iv6dl4j wrote
That and reflecting heat truly does not in any way add to the total heat in the system.
Air conditioning is an expenditure of energy, electrical, which does generate more heat in the system.
Another way to think about it. Running air conditioners is consuming ~15% of global energy. This window idea would save ~5% of that. Adding more air conditioners would increase the ~15%, not decrease it.
Mobius_Peverell t1_iv6dsom wrote
Very true. Though it may redistribute it somewhat. Slightly more down onto surfaces within the window's reflection, and less on the tops of buildings where a/c units generally are. Though again, all very minimal changes.
soks86 t1_iv6o3d1 wrote
Well that might reduce comfort at the street level in dense downtown areas. Huh... although larger buildings actually take cold and pass it down (no compressed gas pipes going the length of skyscrapers as leaks would be hell to fix and probably dangerous overall) that doesn't change the effect of letting the heat off of the windows build up between buildings while the insides of the buildings bring less cool air to the base.
Electric cars to the rescue!
chupo99 t1_iv7epmu wrote
In laymen terms: We already use AC(which requires energy and creates additional heat) to pump the heat back outside anyway so it's more efficient to have a glass that doesn't let the heat in to begin with.
kagamiseki t1_iv8qx0t wrote
Explained another way: the same amount of heat that goes into the house, will come out of the house eventually.
Only question is how much extra heat do we generate by running out AC units to pump the heat out?
runswithcoyotes t1_iv6d9r7 wrote
> Wouldn't it make outdoor temps higher?
That’s how A/Cs work today.. except they consume electricity and produce additional mechanical heat.
Think of this as a way to passively create a cooler bubble within a hot climate by creating two areas of distinct average temperature. It’s not really adding anything to that climate, and the overall average is still the same.
dryguy t1_iv6dlmx wrote
| Wouldn't it make outdoor temps higher?
To the degree that there would be less heating of indoor air, there might be a bit more heating of outdoor air near the window from the UV and IR the window reflects, but the volume of outside air is so tremendously very much larger than the air in a room, it would be very hard to notice. The amount of heat dumped outdoors by an air conditioning unit would be a lot higher in comparison.
To the extent that it reduces the use of air conditioning, it would result in less energy consumption, hence less greenhouse gas emission. So you could argue that it helps keep outdoor temps lower.
ageispolispura t1_iv6efhw wrote
Thanks for the reply! appreciate it :) I understand the enthalpy exchange for AC units but wasn't sure if this was actually reflecting 'back to space' like it claimed or just reflecting it back outdoors. Even if it does just reflect back outdoors, what you explained makes a lot of sense.
ten-million t1_iv7bysi wrote
Are you kidding? All the low-e glass in windows now has multi layered coatings. They are code required now. Every new window has coatings. I spec out cardinal 366 low-e glass all the time. All the window manufacturers use just a few glass suppliers.
And these coatings save money and save energy. That’s why they use them.
octalanax t1_iv7997m wrote
What if it makes the whole universe hotter? What then?
What if we are heating up alien planets and causing global warming for them too? Oh noes!
BoujeeHoosier t1_iv85q4s wrote
No. Air conditioners pull that heat out anyway. In this case you wouldn’t be also using the fuels adding to the problem.
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