Cooling a large room
May 25, 2010 8:11 AM Subscribe
What are some ways, other than air conditioning, to cool a large room (~6,000 square feet)?
The room in question is on the first floor of an old New England mill. It has about 15 large windows facing south and west. Installing A/C is cost-prohibitive at this point, so what are some things I could do for (a lot) less than the $40,000 figure quoted for AC? The mill sits next to a river: would a geothermal heat pump be effective?
The room in question is on the first floor of an old New England mill. It has about 15 large windows facing south and west. Installing A/C is cost-prohibitive at this point, so what are some things I could do for (a lot) less than the $40,000 figure quoted for AC? The mill sits next to a river: would a geothermal heat pump be effective?
Response by poster: No, I haven't done anything, so don't skip any ideas because they're too obvious. I'm actually just starting to investigate the location's suitability for an idea, so I don't have any control over the room yet. The quote is just a rough number, but it's good to know that it's worth re-examining. And thanks for the regulations tip.
posted by yerfatma at 8:20 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by yerfatma at 8:20 AM on May 25, 2010
A heat pump is really just a reversible AC unit that can "cool" in either direction. If it costs 40K to use a one-way AC unit, I can't imagine a heat pump would be any cheaper, although getting more quotes from more installers wouldn't hurt.
Wooden shutters on all the windows will cut the amount of heat that can get inside. There are also films and pre-treated UV blocking glass. Once the amount of heat coming in is less, opening the windows at night and closing them in the day should help a lot.
Make sure the attic is well ventilated and if possible insulate it. If the total heat getting in can be reduced enough, it might be time to get a quote on a smaller AC unit.
posted by TeatimeGrommit at 8:28 AM on May 25, 2010
Wooden shutters on all the windows will cut the amount of heat that can get inside. There are also films and pre-treated UV blocking glass. Once the amount of heat coming in is less, opening the windows at night and closing them in the day should help a lot.
Make sure the attic is well ventilated and if possible insulate it. If the total heat getting in can be reduced enough, it might be time to get a quote on a smaller AC unit.
posted by TeatimeGrommit at 8:28 AM on May 25, 2010
Ventilate at night. Do you already have mechanical ventilation? Run it high at nighttime, and then during the day it should be cooler. Don't have mechanical ventilation? Then just make sure to open as many windows as possible at night, and then shut them during the day.
posted by molecicco at 8:35 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by molecicco at 8:35 AM on May 25, 2010
Response by poster: Once the amount of heat coming in is less, opening the windows at night and closing them in the day should help a lot.
That was my first thought, was some UV film and possibly shades (these are big windows, so shutters would be hard to source), then get as much hot air out at night with some fans and open windows.
Swamp cooler?
I was wondering about some low-tech solutions like this, but the bulk of the problem is humidity, so I don't think that will work well. On the opposite tack, I wonder if a couple of commercial dehumidifiers would make much of a difference.
posted by yerfatma at 8:42 AM on May 25, 2010
That was my first thought, was some UV film and possibly shades (these are big windows, so shutters would be hard to source), then get as much hot air out at night with some fans and open windows.
Swamp cooler?
I was wondering about some low-tech solutions like this, but the bulk of the problem is humidity, so I don't think that will work well. On the opposite tack, I wonder if a couple of commercial dehumidifiers would make much of a difference.
posted by yerfatma at 8:42 AM on May 25, 2010
What is the room going to be used for? An office/company space? Broom-ball tournaments?
posted by rhizome at 8:55 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by rhizome at 8:55 AM on May 25, 2010
Response by poster: Closer to office/ company space. Meetings, etc.
posted by yerfatma at 10:23 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by yerfatma at 10:23 AM on May 25, 2010
Ceiling Fans are not to to be underestimated, and you can pick them up inexpensively from a local home store. You can get various length / heights depending on how high the ceiling is, and it can even light the room.
It's been a while since I've done the legwork on ceiling fans, but there are different efficiencies of fans, etc. that you can pick up.
posted by GJSchaller at 11:11 AM on May 25, 2010
It's been a while since I've done the legwork on ceiling fans, but there are different efficiencies of fans, etc. that you can pick up.
posted by GJSchaller at 11:11 AM on May 25, 2010
reducing the humidity of the air will result in a lower sensible temperature, but I don't know whether or not it would be a cost-effective option.
These are the things I can think of that affect comfort, and how I would address them:
- air temperature - evap cooler in dry climates, AC in wet. Plant trees for shade and evapotranspiration.
- air humidity - dehumidifier; don't know about cost. AC would do this for you.
- air movement - especially important in humid climates. cross-ventilation is good. fans are cheap and easy.
- heat gain through building envelope - don't let direct sunlight hit windows. Films are OK but awnings/shades are better. increase R-value at roof and walls, good seals on doors and windows if you use AC
- radiant heat / direct sun - don't let direct sunlight hit windows.
I'm not familiar with geothermal pumps, but cold river water would probably be fantastic for this.
posted by Chris4d at 11:23 AM on May 25, 2010
These are the things I can think of that affect comfort, and how I would address them:
- air temperature - evap cooler in dry climates, AC in wet. Plant trees for shade and evapotranspiration.
- air humidity - dehumidifier; don't know about cost. AC would do this for you.
- air movement - especially important in humid climates. cross-ventilation is good. fans are cheap and easy.
- heat gain through building envelope - don't let direct sunlight hit windows. Films are OK but awnings/shades are better. increase R-value at roof and walls, good seals on doors and windows if you use AC
- radiant heat / direct sun - don't let direct sunlight hit windows.
I'm not familiar with geothermal pumps, but cold river water would probably be fantastic for this.
posted by Chris4d at 11:23 AM on May 25, 2010
Dehumidifiers won't help so much. A typical portable dehumidifier *is* an air conditional, but it vents the (dry) hot air into the space your in, so yes, it takes out water, but it also heats the place too.
posted by plinth at 11:52 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by plinth at 11:52 AM on May 25, 2010
I went to a place once that had a Big Ass Fan and it was amazing. And yes, that is really what they are called.
posted by ydontusteponit at 11:55 AM on May 25, 2010
posted by ydontusteponit at 11:55 AM on May 25, 2010
Are you going to be renting this place out for meetings? Because a room full of people gets very hot, very quickly.
posted by gjc at 5:42 PM on May 25, 2010
posted by gjc at 5:42 PM on May 25, 2010
I went to a place once that had a Big Ass Fan and it was amazing. And yes, that is really what they are called.
Our local Ikea has two of these in the warehouse area. Even though they're 40-feet up, they produce a significant breeze.
posted by nathan_teske at 9:59 PM on May 25, 2010
Our local Ikea has two of these in the warehouse area. Even though they're 40-feet up, they produce a significant breeze.
posted by nathan_teske at 9:59 PM on May 25, 2010
Response by poster: Because a room full of people gets very hot, very quickly.
Yeah, that's one of my main concerns. "Easy" enough to get the room cool to start, but there needs to be something actively working once people are in the room.
posted by yerfatma at 6:07 AM on May 26, 2010
Yeah, that's one of my main concerns. "Easy" enough to get the room cool to start, but there needs to be something actively working once people are in the room.
posted by yerfatma at 6:07 AM on May 26, 2010
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If you are planning to use the river water for cooling, check your local environmental regulations -- where I live, that would never be permitted, because the rivers are already too warm for some endangered species, so additional warming is a big no-no.
posted by Forktine at 8:15 AM on May 25, 2010