anklebiter
7th September 2011, 14:02
This is so simple it's almost funny.
Requirements:
Empty Soda (or Beer) Cans
Sand - enough to fill the empty cans
Duct Tape - to tape the cans shut so the sand won't fall out if tipped
Flat or Satin Black Spray Paint
Worst case you have to buy a can or 2 of spray paint - buy the cheap stuff.
Rinse out and dry the empty cans. Fill them with sand. This is for mass and will hold heat for a while - even when the sun goes down. Cover the top of the can with duct tape - so the sand won't spill out if the can gets accidentally tipped over. Paint the can either Flat or Satin Black to absorb the heat from the sun.
Make enough of these to stack a few rows high in a south-facing window. Each row you stack high gets warmer as you increase in height - up to about 5 or 6 rows high. I stacked them all the way across the window as well - for a total of 60 in each window. My middle and upper rows of cans have no trouble hitting 140-150 deg. F. on a decent sunny day, with the top row approaching 160-deg. With the help of a little air circulation in the room, the heat radiates out and warms the room noticeably.
I did this to a couple of windows a few years ago and keep putting them back up every year when it starts to cool off.
Told you it's simple, look...
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz138/af0h/SodaCan.jpg
Requirements:
Empty Soda (or Beer) Cans
Sand - enough to fill the empty cans
Duct Tape - to tape the cans shut so the sand won't fall out if tipped
Flat or Satin Black Spray Paint
Worst case you have to buy a can or 2 of spray paint - buy the cheap stuff.
Rinse out and dry the empty cans. Fill them with sand. This is for mass and will hold heat for a while - even when the sun goes down. Cover the top of the can with duct tape - so the sand won't spill out if the can gets accidentally tipped over. Paint the can either Flat or Satin Black to absorb the heat from the sun.
Make enough of these to stack a few rows high in a south-facing window. Each row you stack high gets warmer as you increase in height - up to about 5 or 6 rows high. I stacked them all the way across the window as well - for a total of 60 in each window. My middle and upper rows of cans have no trouble hitting 140-150 deg. F. on a decent sunny day, with the top row approaching 160-deg. With the help of a little air circulation in the room, the heat radiates out and warms the room noticeably.
I did this to a couple of windows a few years ago and keep putting them back up every year when it starts to cool off.
Told you it's simple, look...
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz138/af0h/SodaCan.jpg