The Benefits of Green Air Conditioning

Why Should You Use Green Air Conditioning?

It is almost impossible to stay in your house without an air conditioner during scorching summers, but do you know that it isn’t an eco-friendly system? In fact, according to a report by the Rocky Mountain Institute, air conditioners use up almost 50% of the energy of the United States during summers. Additionally, they are responsible for emitting as much as 100 million tons of carbon dioxide every year. Although these reports are alarming, greener air conditioners are available for people who want to reduce the carbon footprint of their house during peak summer months.

The average cost of green air conditioners

The first question that may come to your mind when you think of green air conditioning is its cost. Instead of thinking about the air conditioner’s initial cost, you should consider the amount of money it will save in the future. While it is true that green air conditioners can be more expensive, they can reduce your home energy usage by almost 20 to 50%. Green air conditioners are useful if you want to lower your home’s energy usage in the long-run.

In addition to saving a lot on energy bills, green air conditioners provide a healthier home environment for you and your family. You will be taking a step towards reducing fossil fuel consumption that leads to greenhouse gas production. Once you take up the initiative to go green, you can pass the responsibility to your children and grandchildren.

How to use a green air conditioner

Increase your attic insulation:

You can further reduce energy usage after installing a green air conditioner by improving your home’s insulation. It provides a high return on investment within a few months.

Install radiant heat barriers:

Radiant heat barriers look like a thin layer of metal insulation consisting of a metalized mylar sheeting or a tin foil with a paper backing. They reduce your air conditioner’s radiant heat transfer into the attic by almost 95%.

Install ceiling fans:

You may not need to use your air conditioner at its full power all the time. Install a good ceiling fan to distribute the cool breeze from the air conditioner throughout the room. Moreover, you may not need to use the AC at all on cooler days. The ceiling fan would work as its substitute, thus reducing energy costs to a great extent.

Seal and insulate ductwork:

One of the reasons why an air conditioner’s cooling efficiency goes down is because of poorly sealed ductwork. These usually run through garages, crawl spaces, and attics. This is another reason why you should improve your home’s insulation.

Install programmable thermostats:

A multiple zone programmable thermostats is another appliance that helps to reduce energy consumption as you don’t need to regulate the AC’s temperature manually. Moreover, setting a slightly higher degree would enable your AC to reduce the overall cooling cost by up to 5%.

Purchase a high-efficiency unit:

Old air conditioners tend to consume much energy as they need to pressure the condenser to cool the air faster. This leads the AC to produce a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases every year. Instead, you should install a high-efficiency air conditioner that not only reduces your carbon footprint but also reduces energy usage by 20 to 50%. If you want to install a window AC, go for the one that has at least 10.7 EERE ratings.

Purchase an appropriately sized unit:

A small air conditioner for a considerable room would make it inefficient in a few years. It would have to work at its optimum condition whenever you use the AC. To avoid this type of problem, contact an HVAC contractor to know the air conditioner’s best size that suits your room so that it cools the room quickly.

Consider ductless air conditioners:

Ductless air conditioners come with split systems. This means you can regulate the temperature of the AC in one room while the other room can maintain its previous temperature. These ACs can also incorporate the best heat pumps to warm your rooms during winters.

Install a whole house fan:

The primary function of a full house fan is to draw cool air from the outside and fill your rooms with it. An electrician would install it on your ceiling that leads to the attic. It attracts not only cool air from the outside but also expels warm air through open windows and ventilated attic spaces. You may avoid using your AC if you install a whole house fan.

Install an evaporative cooler:

An evaporative cooler or swamp cooler is relatively inexpensive compared to an AC. They hardly need 1/10th of the energy that an AC requires. They are appropriate for mild climates but not too suitable for people living in humid areas.

Green air conditioning that’s right for you

Are you still unsure whether a green air conditioner is right for you or not? Well, it isn’t a compulsion for any homeowner. You may not have the time or money to purchase an energy-efficient AC right away, or even install a whole house fan. But honestly, taking a step to a greener environment is not just right for you but also for your family. Imagine the amount of money you will save because of the energy-efficiency of the air conditioner. It’s best to talk to an HVAC contractor if you believe in the green remodeling philosophy. Find someone who knows everything about green building techniques so that he can suggest the best green cooling option for your house.