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1500 questions
10
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3 answers
Solar PV panels - Worth the cost of more efficient panels?
We're investigating fitting solar PV to our large guesthouse in the UK. We can fit around a dozen panels on the south-facing roof (sadly this is one of the smaller roofs). Some installers are advocating higher-efficiency panels (say 18% rather than…
Cheeseminer
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Planning to build zero energy earth house
I'm playing with the idea of building my own home.
I have not picked the location yet but I think I will be good with 1 acre of land. I follow Cody Lundin and like the idea of a earth house. I'm also a fan of Japanese house designs. I will most…
user220
10
votes
2 answers
Potential health risks with keeping temperature in a house low?
In this question on an alternative way of heating a comment was made that
There are significant potential health risks with lowering a house to 16 degrees C
What kind of potential health risks are we talking about here? And under which…
THelper
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10
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How much is the world population expected to grow in the next decades?
What does science say about the expected growth of the human population in the next decades?
THelper
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10
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1 answer
How much of my flat heating is going to heat my neighbours flats?
I live in a block of flats with neighbours on 5 sides and only one side open to the outside.
I understand that conduction is likely to be the main way I lose or gain heat to or from the neighbours on my floor (and this will be based on the…
Mark Booth
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10
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1 answer
Does vegetarianism help in protecting nature?
Recently I saw a documentary in youtube 'Home'. It points out that in America, for feeding cattle, a lot of wheat and other food products are used and these animals are then killed for food. What are the side effects of this? How does this affect…
Son of Earth
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6 answers
How can I use my own body as an energy source for greater environmental sustainability?
I've had the epiphany that my body is a living vessel of energy production (and consumption), just like all other energy sources and associated forms of consumption or re-allocation around me.
My body produces sometimes a huge amount of energy (in…
user487
10
votes
1 answer
What causes photovoltaic (solar) cells to degrade?
Photovoltaic panels can have 20 or 25 year underwritten warranties with a guaranteed remaining efficiency of 80 % of the new panel. That means, that photovoltaic panels seem to degrade somehow.
Why do they degrade? What exactly is reducing their…
erik
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3 answers
How worthwhile is it to use energy during daylight to take advantage of grid-based solar power?
Common sense is telling me to try to do things like vacuuming, laundry and cooking at times of maximal sunlight during the day so that more of the electricity I use comes from solar power generators rather than from sources like coal.
Does anyone…
eug
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10
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2 answers
Is it actually possible to have a global "water shortage"
Much has been made lately of the growing prospect "water shortages". The impression is given that we must all conserve, lest we run out of usable water.
To my understanding, the planet earth is a "closed loop". Isn't it true that, barring a tiny…
ThoughtfulDodger
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1 answer
Is building vertically instead of horizontally in climate with large seasonal temperature changes more sustainable?
My main line of thinking would be that you would build tall skinny housing that would allow the heat to gather in the upper levels in the winter and the cooler air would gather in the basement/lowest levels during the summer. Perhaps a dummy…
Jack Fraser
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2 answers
How effective is free cooling
I live in the tropics, and during the summer it is very hot here. Today the air temp was low-mid 30C with 80% Relative Humidity.
I live close to a stream, which I'd like to use for free-cooling. Today I went out to the stream to check the…
Aron
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2 answers
Why are Fresnel lenses not widely used in the production of solar electricity?
Why are Fresnel lenses not commercially used in the production of steam to run a turbine and produce electricity?
joydeep sadhu
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10
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1 answer
Is opening windows wide or opening them slightly more efficient for exchanging air in a room on a cold day?
For those who wish to replace the air in a room during a cold day with active heating: Given that the purpose of opening the windows is to exchange as much of the air in the room as possible with the least amount of heat lost – is it more efficient…
lyschoening
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5 answers
More sustainable mosquito repellants
Having already looked at more sustainable ways of preventing mosquitos, this is a question on living with the remaining ones without getting bitten so much. What methods are there to avoid getting bitten. I have tried Zodia. This is big around…
Chris Travers
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