Electric Garments Interview with Peter Childs скачать в хорошем качестве

Electric Garments Interview with Peter Childs

In this interview with Professor Peter Childs, I discuss the pros and cons of electrically heated garments worn in the home during the colder months of the year to help everyone to to reduce the energy consumption required to heat our homes. Although already in existence (currently mainly used for outdoor activities), certain tweaks and technical developments could make these garments very interesting not just from a sustainability perspective, but also, given the economic state here in the UK, from a socio-political perspective. I am convinced that heated garments can make a very significant difference here. They can keep the user warm using very little energy – we are talking about 100 to 200 Wh per day. This is in stark contrast to the vast amounts of energy that are required to heat properties from Victorian or Edwardian housing stock, which clearly cannot conform to modern thermal insulation standards. My proposal is in stark contrast to what government advises focussing merely on the very costly and, in most cases, unaffordable installation of thermal insulation with its overly extended Return of Interest which can extend over decades. Using electrically heated garments, one does start saving money in the first year. I argue that this is not only something to consider for those in fuel poverty but for anyone living in a "colder" country, if we consider the associated, significant carbon footprint. I truly believe that electrically heated garments would be a cost-effective way to help people struggling with the energy bills. I was able to reduce my energy consumption for space heating by more than 50%. Nationwide, across homes and workplaces combined, the country could potentially reduce its gas consumption by a significant amount. I note that I have not investigated long-term issues when using electrically heated garments for long periods of times. Although I have not experienced any detrimental side effects using electrically heated garments (gilets, sweatshirts, insoles, long johns) over the last 3 years that I am using them whilst keeping the room temperature in my home low, a word of caution is in place - Using electrically heated garments, is something you do at your own risk and this might affect your health. Seek medical advice, if uncertain about using electrically heated garments at home. As far as I know, no long term study into using electrically heated garments have been conducted as yet. Although wearing electrically heated garments keeps your body warm, in most cases, your face and hands continue to be exposed to the cold air and you still breathe in cold air - It is not clear what the effects on your health are. Proceed with caution. I also note that the rechargeable battery packs (power banks), especially those containing Lithium-Ion or Lithium-Polymer, used to provide the electrical energy for those electrical heated garments can overheat and even start catching fire - potentially causing considerable burns to your body. Make sure that you can remove the power bank quickly when used to heat your garments. Also, always place your batteries in a fireproof metal container when not in use. Again, proceed with caution. Get professional advice on the safe usage of rechargeable batteries.