ScienceNostalgia101 Posted August 12, 2020 Share Posted August 12, 2020 So I work at an office that is constantly warm in the summer, especially when the sun is facing the window. It has blinds, but those blinds aren't fully reflective, and I'm not sure if there is any legal liability to putting tinfoil outside them. However, there is another tinfoil-involving alternative that might work; indoor concave mirrors to collect solar energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CLRTa_ocmo I'm thinking if I did something less precise, but still in a general concave shape, to concentrate all the solar radiation entering the office through the window on a darkly coloured kettle and use this to boil water for coffee or tea.... if I and/or my colleagues were to drink that tea or coffee, would the general effect on how warm it feels in the office, including the heat from the coffee I'm drinking, make it equivalent to the warmth from if all that solar radiation were absorbed by the walls or floors, or would the net effect be a cooling effect? (Disclaimer: I intend to ask my boss well before going through with it... but I intend to ask you guys well before asking my boss.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swansont Posted August 13, 2020 Share Posted August 13, 2020 Unless you heat the water and then remove it from the room, it won't have a cooling effect. You would just be moving the thermal energy around, but it will still be there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScienceNostalgia101 Posted August 13, 2020 Author Share Posted August 13, 2020 Very well, thanks for letting me know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endy0816 Posted August 14, 2020 Share Posted August 14, 2020 (edited) I've been doing Mylar over cardboard, for the inside of mine lately. Might be easier to get your boss to agree to that. Edited August 14, 2020 by Endy0816 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J.C.MacSwell Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 The room would be (very) slightly cooler than if you had heated the water electrically, all other factors being the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Externet Posted August 15, 2020 Share Posted August 15, 2020 Any reflecting or shading treatment should only be done at the exterior; before sunlight hits the windows glass. That produces a considerable cooling ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now