Why reducing the cost of air conditioning is important:
Spending money on cooling your home using air conditioning can be expensive. Air conditioning can account to as much as 40% in America to 70% in Asia of the energy consumed annually by an average household. Taking preventive measures to increase energy efficiency of air conditioners helps reduce energy bills. ���
When to opt for a centralized air conditioning system:
In houses that have centralized air conditioning systems but where the family spends most of the time in one or two rooms, a split air conditioning system might be better. This will allow for localized cooling of one room only. Split air conditioners can also be used to complement the centralized air conditioner being used to cool only specific locations when cooling of the entire house is not necessary. They can be turned off when the central air-conditioning is switched on.
The size of the air conditioner to settle on:
The capacity or size of the air-conditioner plays an important factor in its ability to cool a room properly. A unit that is too small will be unable to cool the room effectively and will create an environment that has varying temperatures in it. Moreover, the air conditioner will also consume a substantial amount of energy as the compressor will be forced to run continuously, as the room will never be cool enough for the thermostat to automatically switch off. AC’s that are too large will waste a lot of energy.
Controlling the sunlight entering a room:
The amount of sunlight entering a room needs to be minimized in order to improve the cooling capacity of the AC. This can be achieved by installing mini-blinds which reduces the radiant heat gain from sunlight by up to 40 to 50%. Other alternatives include using bamboo shades or screens outside the window which help to reduce up to 80% of the sun’s heat from entering into the room. Windows should be kept closed during the day and opened in the night for ventilation.
Using alternate sources of cooling:
Whenever possible, use a fan instead of an air conditioner. This helps in saving on the energy cost. A slow moving fan can also be used along with an air conditioner to evenly distribute the cool air within the room.
When using a split air-conditioner, ensure that the split unit located outside the house is not exposed to direct sunlight. The unit should ideally be placed in the shade to improve its efficiency. The air-conditioner needs to be well ventilated. There should be no objects or plants located next to the compressor obstructing the air flow.
Use built in energy saving features:
Today’s air conditioners come with a number of features that help conserve energy. This includes having automatic timers that can power on or power off the AC. Air conditioners come with built in digital thermostats that accurately regulate the room’s temperature at a specific level.
