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I live in a part of the world that is far below freezing for a significant portion of the year. Thus a large portion of my annual energy usage goes into not freezing to death.

When I drive my daughter to school when it’s -40 fucking degrees, a lot of the energy I use goes into heating my vehicle, swearing, moving and swearing. But this energy also leaks through my windshield, through my exhaust system and through my engine. This energy (heat) doesn’t provide any benefit to anyone and just leaks out into the atmosphere (which we’ve already established is trying to kill me).

That’s rejected energy. Or when it’s below -40, rejected motherfucking energy. :)





A IC car’s heating system normally taps into the engine’s cooling system, so that heat is mostly free. In a pinch you can actually turn the heater on full to help cool the radiator.

I had to do that when my radiator sprang a leak on the freeway and the engine heat kept creeping up. Unfortunately it was late summer and not at all pleasant.

I managed to get to a gas station with some stop leak in stock... If they didn't, I was ready to crack an egg in it.


I once rode in a friend's car in a similar situation. Very much not pleasant. His problem was a thermostat problem, so he hadn't lost all cooling but enough we used the same workaround. Running the heat in the summer time resulted in a couple of very sweaty dudes.

"when it’s -40 fucking degrees" Celsius, or Fahrenheit? Oh yeah, it's the same either way :).

I am afraid you will be the first to migrate after the energy crisis escalates. Next will be millions that live even a little below 0 (Celsius).

Do you live out in Siberia or something? Seems like a rough environment for most tech.

Sounds like a very unique experience :)


Not OP, but upper Midwest US and Canada experience this every year, though where I'm at usually only hits -40 if you include the wind chill.



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