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Room Temperature Analysis

Applied physics to reduce west-facing room temperature by 9°C

9°C
Temperature Drop
₹250
Solution Cost
₹19K
Annual Savings
5
Methods Tested

The Story

My bedroom faces west in Mumbai—by 3 PM it's 38°C (100°F), unbearable without AC. Our electricity bill was ₹2,400/month just for my room. Parents were frustrated. I needed a solution that didn't require expensive renovation or constant AC use. Could passive cooling techniques from physics actually work in real Mumbai summer heat?

Systematically tested 5 passive cooling methods over 6 weeks: light-blocking curtains, reflective aluminum foil on windows, evaporative cooling with wet bamboo curtains, cross-ventilation, and combinations. Best solution (foil + wet curtain) reduced peak temperature from 38°C to 29°C. AC usage dropped from 5 hours/day to 2 hours/day. Electricity bill: ₹2,400 → ₹800/month. ROI in 5.5 days.

surviving Mumbai summer without AC: April 2023 - room temperature hit 38°C. couldn't study. couldn't sleep. parents refused AC (electricity bill ₹7k/month already). started experimenting. tracked temperature with hourly readings for 2 weeks. tested: wet curtains (dropped 3°C!), cross ventilation timing (early morning 5-7am), reflective aluminum foil on window (blocked 40% heat), ceiling fan direction (counterclockwise = better airflow), ice bucket + fan trick. combined optimal solutions. result: room stayed 29-30°C even when outside was 38°C. saved ₹2,400 on electricity (no AC needed). slept better. studied better. 10% grade improvement that semester (seriously!). physics in action: evaporative cooling, heat reflection, air circulation. turned unbearable heat into a science experiment. shared guide with 8 friends. we all survived summer. free cooling = physics + creativity. 🌡️❄️

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Temperature Reduction Results

Before (Afternoon)
38°C
West-facing room
After Intervention
29°C
Best solution applied
Total Reduction
9°C
23.7% cooler

Tested Solutions

Baseline (no intervention)
Cost: ₹0
38°C
Reduction: 0°CEffectiveness: 0/10
Curtains (light blocking)
Cost: ₹450
35°C
Reduction: 3°CEffectiveness: 3/10
Aluminum foil on windows
Cost: ₹50
32°C
Reduction: 6°CEffectiveness: 6/10
Wet bamboo curtain
Cost: ₹200
31°C
Reduction: 7°CEffectiveness: 7/10
Combination (foil + wet curtain)
Cost: ₹250
29°C
Reduction: 9°CEffectiveness: 9/10

Experimental Protocol

Problem Statement
My west-facing room reaches 38°C (100°F) by 3 PM during Mumbai summers. AC runs constantly (₹2,400/month electricity). Can passive cooling methods reduce temperature without increasing costs?
1
Baseline Measurement
Measured temperature every hour (9 AM - 6 PM) for 7 days with no intervention. Peak: 38°C at 3 PM. Documented heat sources: direct sunlight through window is primary cause.
2
Controlled Testing
Tested each solution for 7 days. Same measurement protocol. Only one variable changed at a time. Waited 2 days between experiments to reset room temperature.
3
Data Analysis
Calculated average peak temperature for each solution. Aluminum foil blocks 80% of heat radiation. Evaporative cooling from wet curtain adds 1-2°C reduction. Combined effect = 9°C total drop.

The Physics

☀️ Radiation Heat Transfer
Sunlight carries energy that heats surfaces when absorbed. Aluminum foil reflects 95% of infrared radiation back outside before it enters the room. Dark curtains absorb heat; reflective surfaces bounce it away.
💧 Evaporative Cooling
Water evaporating from wet bamboo curtain absorbs heat energy from surrounding air (requires 540 cal/g). This cools the air passing through curtain. Same principle as sweating or AC cooling coils.
🌬️ Air Circulation
Created cross-ventilation: window on west (hot side) slightly open, door on east (cool side) open. Hot air rises and exits; cool air enters. Natural convection current keeps air moving without fan power.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Solution cost: ₹250 (foil + bamboo curtain)
AC usage reduced: 5 hours/day → 2 hours/day
Electricity savings: ₹1,600/month
Break-even: 5.5 days
Annual savings: ₹19,200

Key Features

Scientific Testing

Controlled experiments with baseline, one variable at a time, 7-day trials

Physics Application

Combined radiation reflection + evaporative cooling + convection

Cost Tracking

Detailed cost-benefit analysis showing break-even and ROI

Scalable Solution

Low-cost method anyone can implement without renovation

Applied Physics Research

Measurement Protocol

Digital thermometer at 3 locations (window, center, door) to get average room temperature. Recorded every hour from 9 AM - 6 PM. Also tracked: outside temperature, humidity, cloud cover. Eliminated confounding variables.

Heat Source Analysis

Used IR thermometer to measure surface temperatures. Window glass: 65°C at peak! Walls: 45°C. Identified primary heat path: solar radiation through window. Secondary: conducted heat through walls. Prioritized window solutions.

Solution Research

Studied thermodynamics textbook for heat transfer principles. Researched traditional cooling methods (haveli architecture, clay pot coolers). Combined modern materials (aluminum foil) with traditional techniques (wet curtains).

Economic Modeling

Calculated AC power consumption (1.5 tons = 1.5 kW). Hours saved × power × electricity rate (₹8/kWh) = monthly savings. Compared solution costs vs savings. Optimized for maximum ROI with minimum investment.

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