An Understanding of Solar Air Conditioners

Understanding the nature and mechanisms of solar air conditioners is important especially if you are

slowly being convinced into buying one. The hot summer days are very unbearable, thanks to the

combined powers of global warming and erratic climate change. During these hot and arid days, the air

conditioner at home usually takes a huge chunk of our electricity bill. Air con units can be left open the

whole day especially if even at night the air still feels dense and warm. Since air con units are used

during summer, and the summer season is when the sun’s energy is very much felt, why not use the

energy emanating from the sun to our cooling advantage?

If you are currently finding yourself in the market for a solar air con, it is already assumed that you have

a solar power energy system such as solar panels running inside your home already. If you still do not

have a solar panel installed at the top of your roof, now is the perfect time to have one especially since

majority of the electric energy that will be used to feed your solar aircon will be generated from the solar

energy gathered in the panels. Utilising solar energy in your home can definitely produce significant and

positive changes to your electric consumption even if the air conditioning has to be powered on for more

than 12 hours in a day.

Even without a solar air conditioner installed yet, having solar panels that can electrically assist your

regular air conditioning unit can help you save at least 20% from your normal electricity bill. If you do

want to proceed with an air con that is solar powered, it might require you to have a separate solar

energy collector aside from the solar panels that you already have installed in your home. Sun energies

gathered from the separate solar collectors will be used solely for the operation of your solar cooling unit.

Aside from homes, this kind of alternative to conventional air conditioning also works in commercial

settings with wider floor spaces and rooms that need to be cooled round the clock. For adsorbent air

conditioning units, the use of desiccants can also help conserve electrical energy. Adsorption is a process

wherein desiccants are used in order to add to the cooling effect of water molecules. Desiccants such as

silica gels are relatively expensive, but government rebates on the use of solar energy can help balance

out the costs. Even with solar air conditioners installed inside your home, it will be even more helpful if

you follow passive solar air conditioning measures inside your home.

Did you know that your choice of curtains, blinds, and awnings have a great impact to your home’s

insulation? Choose heavy drape materials in equally heavy colours to slow down the rate of heat

transferring inside your home and to prevent further unwanted heat from entering to the different

sections of the house. That way, you can slowly decrease your dependence towards your conventional

and solar air con units.

Useful Links:

Solar Air Con

Solar Power Hervey Bay