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Physics question: is it cheaper to climate-control a given volume of air if it is in one large mass like the inside of a mall or enclosed stadium, or if it is fragmented into small, cellular units of volume like an apartment building with a network of smaller paces/corridors?
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I would think the most important factor is probably the area of the outside walls. One big apartment building should be roughly equivalent to a warehouse of the same size. But if the apartments are broken up into multiple towers, that would work against them.
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more walls/layering = more insulation, I would presume. ~Same reason we're supposed to wear layers when it's cold! perhaps an interesting follow-on question: given x sq ft of wall, how should it be arranged to minimize energy spent to stabilize internal climate?
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Easier to make rapid temp change at the former, but to maintain temperature at the latter, due to insulating qualities of smaller units.
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