As per official reports, air conditioning for businesses and houses consumes close to 5 percent of total power resources in America. This substantiates how widespread air conditioners have become today. Companies are taking note of this excessive power consumption and are, therefore, devising models that go easy on electricity consumption. All of this makes switching to air conditioners easy on the wallet and also beneficial to the environment. Let’s talk a bit more about air conditioning energy efficiency.
Size Considerations
It’s essential to purchase an air conditioner that’s proportionate to the area or room you intend to cool. Larger units consume increased power than their smaller counterparts, as they switch between on-and-off cycles quite frequently. A small system running for longer phases is unlikely to consume more power.
Power Ratings
The EER or energy efficiency ratio scale is the standard for measuring an air conditioner’s energy efficiency. To conform to nationwide appliance standards, room ACs in America should have the EER rating falling within the 8.0 and 9.8 range. Anything above 10.0 means even better efficiency, which is highly recommended if you have the budget.
Installation
An AC’s energy efficiency can also be maximized if the unit is installed the right way. Make sure the unit is properly placed to render proper functioning of the drainage system and internal mechanisms. Setting up the air conditioner in a sun-proof spot on the north or east side of a property could bring down direct sunlight’s heating effect on the AC’s heat exchange unit.
Location
The air conditioner’s location in the room also influences its energy efficiency. Try installing the system farther from other electronic/electrical goods, such as television sets or lamps. The heat emanating from electrical items could make the air conditioning system to unnecessarily switch on and consume additional power. For narrow, long spaces/rooms, buy AC units with fan regulators that could push the cool air further inside the room.
Usage
As much as possible, try reducing the length of time the air conditioner is put to use. Have the thermostat set a little higher for reducing disparity between indoor and outdoor temperatures. Use a standard interior fan in other parts of the room to assist with circulating the conditioned, cooler air. Do not forget to put the mains switch off when the air conditioner is not being used or when you’re out on a vacation. For efficient operations, make sure the unit is serviced regularly, as per manufacturer-recommended time/usage intervals.
The following are a few more tips to save power:
• If air conditioning consumption is inevitable during summer, try cutting down your electricity consumption elsewhere. For instance, use a slow cooker or microwave oven whenever possible as they are known for consuming lesser energy than stoves.
• Your energy bills could be shooting through the roof if you have a less energy-efficient or outdated appliance setup. Old appliances, especially refrigerators, give out heat, making your air conditioning unit work even harder or run longer.
• Resort to fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent variants give out some heat, thereby escalating your cooling requirements. Closing your window blinds and drapes during the day would also help.
