Tag: summer

  • The Summertime Failure of Minergie and the Case for AC

    The Summertime Failure of Minergie and the Case for AC

    Reading Time: 4 minutesMinergie is a fantastic concept for a cold planet, and to keep cool in winter. It traps heat with ease during the morning and radiates it for the rest of the day into the night. It supplements to solar radiation heat with geothermal heat, which it gets from the heat pumps. That…

  • Running Fun With Fountains in a Heat Wave

    Running Fun With Fountains in a Heat Wave

    Reading Time: 4 minutesToday I had the pleasure of going for a run early. I had planned to run at 07:30 to finish right as the shops were opening but I felt too lazy, so I was at the shops by 08:20 and running a few minutes later. I was thinking “Oh it’s still early,…

  • On Air Conditioning and Swimmer’s Itch

    On Air Conditioning and Swimmer’s Itch

    Reading Time: 2 minutesMonday we went for a run in the Canicule heat. For the most part we skirted woods where we could, and stopped twice at the same fountain to drink, splash ourselves, and recover from the heat. In so doing we cooled ourselves and stayed hydrated. After the run we went to the…

  • The Cold Water Bottle Sleeping Test

    The Cold Water Bottle Sleeping Test

    Reading Time: 4 minutesSince I enjoy experimenting with concepts and ideas I decided to get an empty 500ml bottle and fill it to almost but not quite full to allow for expanding ice not to destroy the cap. I then put it in a freezer for a day. When night came, and as the time…

  • A Walk in Geneva

    A Walk in Geneva

    Reading Time: < 1 minuteYesterday I went to a Ruby on Rails talk in Geneva. I headed to town early and had a walk from Cornavin to the UNHCR building before walking towards the WMO. I then turned towards the lake and headed to the parc. In the park I saw that people were in…

  • Experimenting with Air Conditioning

    Experimenting with Air Conditioning

    Reading Time: 3 minutesI live in a Minergie, which, in theory, means that I never need to worry about climatisation because the building keeps itself warm in winter and cold in summer. In practice the features that make a flat fantastic winter make it awful in summer. ## Good in Winter Large windows, in winter…

  • On Summer Heat in a Very Noisy Village

    On Summer Heat in a Very Noisy Village

    Reading Time: 4 minutesFor as long as I remember I have enjoyed summer heat. For a long time I lived in a house that was like a cave in summer. It would be 30°c outdoors but 21 to 25°c indoors. It felt like stepping into a cave when I got home. For a summer or…

  • Quiet Roads on a Sunday Bike Ride

    Reading Time: 4 minutesYesterday I went for a bike ride. By my norms it was a relatively cool day, just 27 or so degrees, compared to the 30-37°c I have ridden in, in the past. I was comfortable on the bike, with a cool breeze to cool me down. I went by the lake and…

  • Heat Waves and Tarmac

    Heat Waves and Tarmac

    Reading Time: 3 minutesHeatwaves and Tarmac When you cycle you feel the difference between different landscapes between seconds. You go from farming landscapes to wooded areas near forests before finally getting to the cities. In the process you notice the difference in temperatures between these different land uses. The Permanent Summer Heatwave This summer has…

  • A Walk To The Chateau De Bossey

    A Walk To The Chateau De Bossey

    Reading Time: < 1 minuteI walked to the Chateau De Bossey today. It’s an easy walk from one village to another and another after that.