Wow, intensity. Looked at Weather Underground and found:Currently
Humidity: 23% Wind: 4.0 mph from the NE Visibility: 10.0 miles Dew Point: 59 °F Precipitation: 0% Chance of Rain Air quality: Good Pressure: 24.44 in UV: 7 Observed at: Wallace Creek, Springfield, ORUpdated: 4:41 PM PDT on July 28, 2009
Wallace Creek's station is the nearest to our house -- it's in the shade, and it's in a draw, and is often ten degrees cooler than the average for all the other stations in our metropolitan area. The airport station gets a little higher than ambient sometimes -- at least I hope it does, because the reading, if I read it right for that one, says 108F. I'm thinking, if I don't keel over on the way home, I'll be farming by moonlight.
Update: 106 in Eugene today (Wed.), 102 here -- house was 68 at 5:30 pm, which after three days of triple digits, is pretty decent. Considering. It's 77 in here now; 87 outside, yet inside feels much hotter. I'd find this interesting but my brains have turned into a bubbling bowl of bleh.
:::
Update: 106 in Eugene today (Wed.), 102 here -- house was 68 at 5:30 pm, which after three days of triple digits, is pretty decent. Considering. It's 77 in here now; 87 outside, yet inside feels much hotter. I'd find this interesting but my brains have turned into a bubbling bowl of bleh.
O my! Keep your cool!
ReplyDeleteNice and warm where you are! We're expecting a high on 13C (55F), dropping to freezing overnight.
ReplyDeleteCan you blow a few heat waves this way? ;-)
When I got here, it was still 102F outside and it was 67 inside. Now, at 9:30, it's 83 outside and dropping, and 76 inside and climbing. This is presumably the heated walls and ceiling radiating to the house. Fans are going to push the air outside, which feels cooler even though the temp is higher -- must be higher humidity in the house.
ReplyDeleteI know this may seem like puny temps to an Arizonan, but we're nunh-UNH! NOT used to it ... ;)
We have cool rain here. I guess we traded weather.
ReplyDeleteLisa
Yah -- let's give it to Daharja, who needs it more ... :D
ReplyDeleteFrom a campus email:
ReplyDelete"Due to the record-breaking heat, Campus Operations earlier today implemented temporary changes to our cooling system to relieve the system load. As of 8 a.m. this morning, campus chilled water production and distribution was operating at maximum capacity. Temperatures are not cooling off in the evenings, so the central and building systems are not able to pre-cool facilities as is typically the case. Several stand-alone cooling systems have already failed, impacting several individual spaces or small buildings.
"Immediate steps were taken to curtail delivery of chilled water to non-critical buildings and systems by adjusting the chilled water load shed. Additional chilled water reductions will continue to occur as needed. These temporary reductions are required so that critical spaces and buildings such as scientific and animal labs and libraries are not jeopardized. Campus users should expect temperatures in non-research areas to climb as load shedding continues.
"Campus Operations will continue to monitor the systems and make adjustments as necessary. When possible, systems will be restored to normal conditions, but plan on less than optimal conditions for the rest of Tuesday, Wednesday and possibly Thursday morning."
Design standards shoot for 95 to 98% of past weather data for efficient systems. If you oversize they are costly to operate and do a poor job. This is just one of the things that needs to be addressed considering climate change. All your hard farm work is not going to effect these cycles the causes are both natural and man made hundreds of things not just CO2.
ReplyDeleteWe need to be planning for the changes and taking action because the changes are not stoppable.
Lisa
Well, we have done the white paint, doubled the insulation (and will add more when we can, shaded the windows inside and out, button up during the day and draw the cool air in after 10 p.m. -- and we are growing shade as fast as we can. ;)
ReplyDeleteResults are we now get close to 40 degrees improvement inside over out at peak daytime temps, an improvement of about 15 degrees over past efforts. But the law of diminishing returns, a la thermodynamics, will begin to apply. ;)
Lisa, what are some of your tactics? (I get it about strategies ... )
Oh, and today it was 106 in Eugene, but only 102 here I think, and 68 inside at 5 pm.
ReplyDelete"Lisa, what are some of your tactics? (I get it about strategies ... )"
ReplyDeleteAs far as man made problems this can be reduced with reduced population. The earth will correct itself long after we are gone.
The oceans are the most important part of climate. We can not abuse them and not expect problems.
My personal strategies are to consume as little as possible and let nature have its way.
Lisa
Population and climate would be conditions, and trying to do anything about them, regardless of how we got to this point, would be strategies, yes? Which might not be effectual -- and I think we have some agreements there.
ReplyDeleteBut when your house gets hot (or cold) I presume you take measures to keep yourself within a livable range of temperatures and and humidity; that was my question ... it's umm, a technical question, small in scale. As in "what color is your parachute?"
And I wouldn't mind owning about 100 square yards of white parachute material right now. ;)
Oh dear, I hope you're hanging in there! I for one know how it feels and sympathize!
ReplyDeleteMuch better now! It's barely 80 and may "only" go to 90! I'm hoping to carry some water to young fruit trees this afternoon -- was afraid to for the last 3 days.
ReplyDelete"But when your house gets hot (or cold) I presume "
ReplyDeleteYou know I built my house just like a thermos bottle. It is sealed and insulated very well . The windows need no shade because they have a thin layer of metal between the glasses to block 94% of UV and inferred light. It also has a basement that stays like a cave. Then there is the geothermal systems that keep fixed temperatures. I saw the climate changing before the media and built it to maintain 70 F when it is 125 f outside. They use the heat to make hot water all very economical.
I bet you spend more on commuting then I do on electricity and gasoline combined.
Lisa
Wow, GREAT job. You mentioned a few things before but this is outstanding. I'm on more of a budget for up-front costs, though.
ReplyDeletePoint taken on the commuting! :D But this year I studied the bus routes and times, and asked for a change in my hours, and cut the 36 mile round trip to 10 miles, then to 3. (!!) And come October 1st, I will retire. We have cleared all our debts, and this will free up my labor to make more improvements, we hope. At least until the retirement fund collapses.
"At least until the retirement fund collapses."
ReplyDeleteMost state and federal plans are protected by a federal program. So the whole country has to go bankrupt which is also possible with the leadership we have. I still have a mortgage but it offers a tax deduction, yes, up front costs pay dividends for life. It is all part of doing quality things from the start. Brick also needs very little maintenance. Slow growing grass and plants need very little work and no watering.
We are the same age but I retired over 5 years ago. The last 5 years have been the best and the most freedom from society and role playing. I write to the politicians all the time, books give me the truer story of their corruption. If only half the population did not have IQ below average.
^_^ ... you may have to move to Lake Wobegon, where "The women are strong, the men are good-lookin', and the children are all above average."
ReplyDelete