Well, I think that goes without saying.
Posted on 02/07/2022 2:10:22 AM PST by Jonty30
I was doing some research into finding ideas to passively heat sidewalks, to help keep them free of snow and ice and reducing the amount of work to do it.
I came across an article from MIT, that I can't find at the moment, but they took an aluminum mat and sprayed it thoroughly with the blackest paint they could buy and they found that everything under it heats up three times faster under it.
So, I was thinking that you could probably do the same thing with your cement steps. Clean them thoroughly and then spray them down with the blackest paint you could buy and then clear coat to protect the paint.
It might save you many hours of shoveling the sidewalk at the beginning and end of winter.
If there is no light (because it is blocked by the snow), there will be no additional heat.
Yes, but it can prevent the snowfall to some degree in the first place. Won’t work in Maine, I’m sure, but I’d bet most of the snow that affects most of the people in America falls at over 27 degrees.
Yeah, this sort of thing is commonly known in the snow belt, such as here in Northern Wisconsin.
But then walking barefoot in July and ouch ouch oooh ouch.
move to florida...
A good way to find out would be to paint a one ft. square area flat or matte black (flat absorbs more light) on a driveway and measure the results next time the snow falls.
However, if you maintain it, it may be easier to eliminate the snow because it’s half melted under the heat. It’s about reducing the labour, not the elimination of labour.
If you want to eliminate labour, that’s what children and children are for.
That’s my plan when I have a lottery cheque in my hand in the amount that can sustain me for the rest of my life.
Or, you could just spread salt before the snow falls....
I was also thinking, using the applied principles of the MIT invention, is that you could probably get a metallic tarp or make one with baking trays. Spray them absolutely black and lay them over your sidewalk during the day and then shoveling at night.
moving here 15 years ago was the best move i ever made...
Not a great idea to paint and clear coat horizontal concrete surfaces. Rain or any water on that type of surface will result in a lot of busted a$$es.
Or you could use the principles of both. Lay some salt and then lay a black tarp pn top during the day time.
What if the temperature drops, and the melted snow freezes?
The idea is that it’s easier to sweep melted water off your sidewalk rather than shovel snow, whenever possible.
I have a red door. Do you want it painted black?
Next you’ll want the sun blotted out from the sky, I suppose.
Well, I think that goes without saying.
I used to live in North Dakota, where temperature drops were severe.
Reminds me of the old thermodynamics test question in college. There are two cars; one has the engine painted black and the other has the engine painted silver (or chrome plated), which engine runs cooler?
Note it is the color of the engine and not the engine compartment. The correct answer is the engine that is painted black will run at a cooler temperature.
I will let you think about that in regards to the sidewalk.
This sounds like an episode from Red Green.
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