Painting half a house black in Quebec

[WolfishGrin]

Homework Statement

Alice lives in the Quebec. She wishes to build a new home and paint one-half of the outside black and the other half white. She can either split the house east-west or north-south. State which half she should paint white and which half she should paint black in order to minimize heating costs and explain this decision based on thermodynamics.

Homework Equations

N/A

The Attempt at a Solution

Right now, I'm basically lost as to where to start. I know the sun rises in the east and settles in the west, so I am guessing I'm going to split the house east-west. Now, which side is better? I think Quebec would be colder when the sun is rising than when the sun is setting, so my best bet is that I should paint the east black to bring more radiation heat into the house.

 

[Chi Meson]

First of all, consider whether overall heating, or overall cooling is more important in Quebec.

Then consider not only the absorptive qualities of black vs white, but the radiative qualities as well.

 

[WolfishGrin]

I changed my mind.

Since Queec is way north of the equator, the southern half of the house should be painted black. It will receive maximum sun exposure all day as opposed to only half the day (east/west), whereas the northern half should be painted white because it will reciev eminimal sun exposure.

 

[Chi Meson]

I changed my mind.

Since Queec is way north of the equator, the southern half of the house should be painted black. It will receive maximum sun exposure all day as opposed to only half the day (east/west), whereas the northern half should be painted white because it will reciev eminimal sun exposure.

That's what I would do. Furthermore, why bother painting the north side white? Why not paint it black? There is a reason, and I alluded to it in my previous post.

 

[arildno]

Remember to buy your paint in a French owned store, though, if you wish to appear non-discriminatory.

 

[WolfishGrin]

Remember to buy your paint in a French owned store, though, if you wish to appear non-discriminatory.

Haha.

Thanks for the help, Chi. :) I'm only allowed to paint one half black, and one half has to be white. It's a strange question. I appreciate the second opinion. :)