Solar air conditioning

I haven't seen any, but I have heard about them in Sweden.

I'm 99.9% sure they are not being used here yet.

I think most of the year in Sweden if you want to cool your house you just open a window...

"solar powered air conditioning" 1500 hits in google

More information please..

On the actual set up, and sequence of operation.

evaporative coolers

If you are referring to evaporative coolers then they will not work in the DR. They do work very well in dry climates.

My sister has had several in Utah and Colorado.

http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/artikeljuni2002-e.html

I believe the problem is that at yet the technology available is too expensive and would only be cost-effective for very large operations.

But if petroleum stays high, there is more incentive for new technology to be developed.

Lots of links on Google on the subject. Here is one interesting one.
http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html

Very nice

No real technical information on the web site, but I would be willing to buy one to try it.

How are the wind turbines going?

Anyone ever heard of "passive" air conditioning? It's as simple as building a dome on your roof with vents in it and opening windows on the shady side of the house. As hot air rises and vents out this dome, it creates a vacuum that sucks in cooler air.There's no energy usage and costs little to implement.
It's supposed to cool 15 degrees less than ambient temperature.
Cool heh?

Read something like this here http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html

Don't recall if that link came from dr1 first.

Dolores said:

Read something like this here http://mb-soft.com/solar/saving.html

Click to expand...

I read that thing and well, it sounds like a great idea but it also sounds like they're trying to guineapig people into trying it out for them and posting about it on the web (read at the end). I believe that who ever wrote this never really tried it successfuly and here's why. PVC pipes may seem afordable and they may be kind'a hygenic (a big problem with this system because it will operate at a temperatura at which bacteria will just start to feel like wanting to learn to dance bachata) but it is a bad conductor for temperatures. So, air will just run thru the pipes et voil?, or in other words, without much noticeable change in temperature. But the basic idea that there are lower temperatures not so far below that could be used to "cool vent" (that's not airconditioning, especially not to US American standards) still stands and invites to elaborate.
So, we need a different material than PVC... copper, aluminum would be prime for temperatur exchange but prime bucks too... steel could work to... maybe even concrete (especially in a wet environement).
Then we need to redefine size... if it shall be copper or aluminum, we just might want to use a much smaler diameter, dig deeper and run a good bunch of pipes all over the place. Steel or even iron pipes may be used in larger sizes and concrete too.
In anyway, the pipes need to be much further apart than in their design or you will just warm up your garden real fast and loose all that cooling effect.
In anyway, hygenics will be an issue that needs to be adressed form the very beginning. First yes, as described in the article, one will need to provide for some way to evacuate condesation. I think the other (dancing bacteria) problem may be approached with some ulta violet lightning (which isn't too energy consuming to run). Fungus... uhm... I don't know, I never really liked fungus, maybe since it don't hardly ever dance.

Anyway, it's been good enough to haunt me in my sleep but it still needs some major brainstorming.

Thoughts welcomed.

... J-D.

No necessity for all those pipes.

I also read the article and found it to be too complicated. There's no need to bury pipes. If you have a big enough backyard, you can run a conduit of whatever material to the lowest and shadiest part of your property and connect it to the existing ventilation system in your home. Just make sure the lower windows are closed and the ones on top open. Or build an exaust vent, dome-like, right through your roof. If it works for me, It'll work for you.

Do you have this installed in the DR. Could I visit you to see how it works?

Yes you may.

Dolores said:

Do you have this installed in the DR. Could I visit you to see how it works?

Click to expand...

I had an exaust vent built over the kitchen stove which is on the upper level of my two tiered home. it works extremely well exept when cooking when it has to be shut or the stove flames go out.
You're welcome to come by. I'm not there now but my brother Julio can show you around.

The adress is: Calle Gualluvin Olivo # 64, Vista Hermoza, Sto Dgo. Este.
( entrada de Wessin)

It's a fact that eastern continents use far less renewable energy then the western ones. I asked myself why this may be; the answer comes down to money, there is far more money in nuclear, coal and hydro. Sooner or later we are going to have become aware that renewable energy is in the end our only resort. I have started doing my part by using solar panels to heat parts of my house and solar tubing to heat my pool but havent heard of solar air-conditioning before this thread, it is definatly something I will look into!

-SunnyG

No need for energy hogs!

SunnyG said:

It's a fact that eastern continents use far less renewable energy then the western ones. I asked myself why this may be; the answer comes down to money, there is far more money in nuclear, coal and hydro. Sooner or later we are going to have become aware that renewable energy is in the end our only resort. I have started doing my part by using solar panels to heat parts of my house and solar tubing to heat my pool but havent heard of solar air-conditioning before this thread, it is definatly something I will look into!

-SunnyG

Click to expand...

You ever notice why old (catholic) churches are so cool inside? Generally, they have very high ceilings & tiled flooring that dissipate heat.
In DR, homes can be made very pleasant by building a dome, planting shade trees and installing awnings on the eastern side of the house.
No A/C units, no huge elect. bills, very environmentally friendly & good for the economy! ( no coal or diesel to buy from frigging Chavez).