Air conditioning is a huge part of many homes, providing us with the comfort not many are willing to give up on. Sadly, air conditioners are not exactly the most eco-friendly appliances in our home. Due to its nature and constant cycling, its energy consumption is high and cheap chemical coolants that are bad for the environment are sadly used throughout the world, particularly in less developed countries.
All of this contributes to the AC being regarded as one of the least eco-friendly inventions. But is there such a thing as an eco-friendly air conditioning?
To some degree, the answer is yes. The technology has come a long way and with new, strict regulations manufacturers are striving to abide and make AC units good both for us and the environment. And while most of the issues with air conditioning come from outdated units, there’s still a lot more you can do to reduce your air conditioner’s carbon footprint by making sure the AC consumes less energy.
In this article, we are going to show you how.
Make Sure You Get Your AC Size Right
An air conditioner that is too small will not only fail to properly cool your home, it will consume more energy doing so. In order to cool your home to the desired temperature, it will run more to compensate for the size, meaning an increase in your electrical bill and bad news for the environment. The same goes for an AC unit that’s too large. While it cools your home down significantly faster, your home will also heat up faster as well. This means the AC will operate in short, but very powerful cycles.
The best way to make sure your AC is eco-friendly is to get the size just right. You can learn more about AC sizes and how to pick the right one here: https://www.actionac.net/hvac/blogac-size-air-conditioning-in-la-mesa
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are a very efficient heating system for a home. During the summer the heat pump operates much the same way an AC unit does, but in the winter it is used to heat up your home. It works on a principle that mirrors the function of the air conditioner. In the winter it absorbs the heat from the outside and channels it into your home. That means that it does not use any fuel like gas or oil to heat you up. However, in order to reach its maximum efficiency, the heat pump has to be properly installed.
Use Programmable Thermostats
Using a programmable thermostat is one of the easiest ways to make sure your AC unit is green. The programmable thermostat gives the homeowners a better control of their air conditioning system. You can program the system to stay inactive during the day while your home is empty and turn on just before you return. This way the AC will not waste the energy during the day, and you still get to come back to a cool home.
Keep Your AC in Good Shape
If you take good care of your AC system, it will take good care of you. If you don’t clean the air filters, the outdoor unit and have your AC regularly checked by a professional, it will likely operate at a decreased capacity, again using more energy than it would need in pristine shape. An experienced technician will check for leaks, test the pressure of the refrigerant and examine the air flow. They can also offer to replace an outdated component to make your AC better for the environment and your wallet.
