this post was submitted on 28 Apr 2024
212 points (89.0% liked)

Showerthoughts

29786 readers
266 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 38 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Smart enough to understand heat pumps dumb enough to think it's has that large of an effect.

[–] [email protected] 35 points 6 months ago (2 children)

In cities it actually does have an effect, especially in crowded ones. Millions of people in a relatively small area blasting AC "exhaust" out of their windows heat up the crammed air and in turn the buildings, streets, etc. which increases the heat island effect of cities.

Granted, it's not a huge effect, but it's measurable. First source I could find: https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/08/30/fact-check-is-air-conditioning-making-cities-hotter

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (2 children)

see I've been wondering if a heat pump system could heat an oven hot enough to bake bread. use environmental heat to manufacture Wonder Bread or something.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don't know the answer, but it this did work it would both make the outside of the oven super cold and be so slow to warm up that it would be pointless. Keep in mind that you have to get stuff in and out so air exchange is inevitable, every time you open the door you'd be reducing the heat substantially and it would take a long time to rise back up.

Also my gut feeling is that any practical implementation wouldn't be as energy efficient as you'd hope.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

The other part of the idea is use the heat pump to not only heat an oven to bake bread (or do some other industrial heating process) but have the other end cool some process that produces waste heat, such as a data center or something. Or air condition a warehouse.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I don’t see why it shouldn’t be able to. You might need concentric shells depending on the power of the heat pump.

[–] [email protected] -4 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

Huh guess so. But still 2.4 degrees ain't a whole lot (well except on a global scale lol). Thankfully in this situation doesnt really cause additional global warming problems.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Cities are already about 5C hotter than the surrounding countryside. Adding this increase on top, means 7.5C.

4OC in the countryside is already bad, 47,5C in the city is deadly for a lot of people.

I think you underestimate, how deadly heat can be: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wet-bulb_temperature

[–] [email protected] 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Wouldn’t those 2.5C already be included in cities being 5c warmer..?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

No, since most cities are not fully air conditioned.