How to Choose the Most Efficient Air Conditioner

awilliams — Mon, 20 May 2013 20:29:22 +0000

So you’re thinking about having your air conditioner replaced. Maybe it’s noisy and expensive. Maybe it doesn’t keep the house comfortable anymore. Or maybe it’s just getting old. After all, 10 years is the maximum lifespan of central Air Conditioner these days.

You might be pleasantly surprised to find out that technology has made switching more attractive. For one thing, the newer efficient air conditioning systems are considerably more efficient. You’ll probably end up spending less on electricity this summer.

Second, because of this increased efficiency, you might be able to get by with a smaller unit.

Size does matter

When it comes to your Air Conditioner, bigger isn’t always better. The first step, before you even decide on the brand and choose some of those fancy options– like fan-only mode, or two-stage operation– is to have your house sized.

In HVAC talk, ‘sizing’ refers to an assessment of the space you want to keep cool and dry. Your contractor will conduct something called a Manual J (from the Air Conditioning Contractors of America).

A Manual J takes into account many factors, like how many stories there are in your home, the number and size of doors and windows, how much insulation you have, and, of course, the climate in your region.

Do your homework

But before you hire an HVAC contractor, it pays to have a little background on the subject.

Air conditioners cooling capacity is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). You will often see AC units described as ‘3-ton’ or ‘2.5-ton’. Each ‘ton’ is worth 12,000 BTUs. So if you buy a 2-ton unit, it will have a 24,000-BTU capacity.

As a very rough gauge,about 25 BTUs are needed to cool each square foot of space. So if your home is 2,000 square feet, you’d need about 50,000 BTUs, or a 4-ton unit.

However, that’s just the beginning. Then your contractor will factor in all of those other things– plus others like exposure, occupancy, insulation, and the number of rooms.

New HVAC technology changes the equation

The other variable is efficiency. Older models required more BTUs. Today’s central air conditioning systems are up to 50% more efficient than those made 40 years ago. So you might be able to get by with a smaller unit.

Sizing is even more important because some of the newest brands are not sold in half-ton sizes. So if you are replacing a 3.5-ton unit, you might need to choose between 3 tons and 4 tons of cooling capacity. Because of the efficiency factor, your contractor may advise you to ‘go low’.

There’s a lot to like about the new technology. But before you begin, it pays to bone up on the basics. Check out the “Get Educated” section and impress your contractor! (Just kidding.)

How did you chose the right AC unit for your house?

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Conditioning the Air Includes Temperature and Humidity

awilliams — Tue, 07 May 2013 20:32:58 +0000

It’s not the heat; it’s the humidity.

If you’re wiping the sweat off your face even while the air in your house stays at 66 degrees, that old saying begins to haunt you.

Humidity has to be factored into any equation of home comfort. It’s especially important if you live in a very hot area or a humid climate like south Florida. But even in cooler zones, or during winter, humidity can affect your comfort level.

Some possible culprits

If you have central AC, humidity should not be a problem. Air conditioners are designed to remove humidity. If your system isn’t doing its job, there are a few possible reasons.

1. The AC could be too large for the space it’s supposed to cool– in which case it will shut down before the job is done.
2. If you are using an older system, SEER 13 or lower, it could be limited to ‘on’ or ‘off’ modes. High-efficiency HVAC systems usually have variable speeds, so they run as long as it takes to remove humidity.

So what can you do about it? Well, there are a couple of major changes you might consider– or one adaptation that might work.

If your system is aging, you could invest in a high-efficiency system. If you’re running an older AC, humidity might be the least of your problems. Maybe it’s worth talking with your contractor before the summer heat hits the fan, so to speak.

Another possibility is that your system is not sized properly for your home. Larger does not mean better. If you’ve recently had your AC system replaced, you probably could have gotten by with a smaller BTU-capacity than the one you replaced. The new models are that much more efficient.

Again, you’ll want to talk with a good contractor about this. Your tech should do what’s called a Manual J to determine how much cooling capacity you need. This assessment takes into account factors like the climate you live in, how much sunlight you get, the number of rooms in the house, and many others.

Minor tweaks might dry the air

If you decide to stay with your current system, there are minor solutions you can try.

BTW, most HVAC contractors do not advise you to run a dehumidifier. It will add to your electric bill and increase the load on your air conditioner.

You might consider a dehumidifying heat pump. This is an add-on to your AC system. While it might make the job of cooling a bit more difficult, it will lessen the job of dehumidification. So you could see a net gain in efficiency.

And there are some low-tech ways of keeping the air dryer in your home, such as: Install an exhaust fan in the shower. Check to see if your clothes dryer is properly vented. And make sure your central AC is clean, well-maintained, and running smoothly.

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Spring Maintenance: Your Air Conditioner Will Repay You This Summer

awilliams — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 20:42:41 +0000

If you haven’t already turned on your air conditioner, chances are you will pretty soon. While spring has been slow to arrive in many parts of the country, May usually brings the first heat.

First, a moment of thanks. Central AC is self-contained and remarkably efficient. We usually don’t even think about it unless something goes wrong. So let’s count our blessings. (And if you haven’t already done so, call your HVAC contractor to schedule the annual AC maintenance.)

DIY: Save Contractor Time and Your Money

Professional help aside, there are things you can do yourself to keep your air conditioning system humming quietly all summer.

While you’re doing your yard work, rake the dead leaves and debris away from the outdoor unit. Trim bushes around the unit. You can use the hose to lightly spray the coils.
Make sure the drains aren’t plugged on your condensate (outdoor unit), and check to see that water isn’t pooling in the drain pan.
Inside the house, you can clean the duct grills and vents with a wet cloth or vacuum cleaner. Make sure your vents are open for good airflow and to keep humidity levels under control.
If you don’t have extra air filters, ask your HVAC contractor for some. They should be changed at the beginning of each season– spring, summer, fall, winter– and you don’t need a contractor’s license to do this.

Air Conditioner Maintenance Checklist

While you’re taking care of these things, it’s a good time to note if anything seems awry– such as broken coils or water build-up. You can make a list of questions to ask your AC guy.

Try to remember what it was like at the height of the heat wave last summer. Was your AC keeping the house cool? Was your furnace shutting off and on all night? Was the humidity too high? Were your bills too high?

If so, maybe this is a good time to check out a new high-efficiency AC unit. While they’re not cheap, the savings on your electric bill can give you a pretty quick payback. Or you might be able to get by with a smart thermostat or a dehumidifying heat pipe, as described at Energy.gov.

For many of us, spring is our favorite season. Not too hot, not too cold: Like Goldilocks, just right. But in most areas of the country, it’s short-lived. So enjoy! And get ready for the heat.

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Are You Dreaming About a New Central Air Conditioning System?

awilliams — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:41:59 +0000

We don’t have to tell you: Air Conditioning ain’t cheap. But what can you do? Live without it? Maybe– if you live in the mountains of Vermont or in the Pacific Northwest.

But if you’re stuck in D.C., or Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Savannah, Biloxi . . . . (we could go on, but you get the picture), when the old AC starts clunking and costing more than you spend on gas, maybe it’s time to think about trading up.

Or trading down– with the newer, more efficient models, you might get away with a smaller system!

Checklist For Replace vs. Repair Air Conditioning System

It used to be that government energy experts advised us to replace AC units that were 15 years old. Now technology has improved and the design of AC systems has been revamped, so they’ve lowered the bar (that is, replacement age) to 10 years.

Ten years makes more sense (and dollars). Air Conditioning systems are graded by SEER numbers. That stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating; the higher, the better. If you replace an older system that’s SEER 10 with a new SEER 20, you’ll cut your operating costs in half. If you’re spending $200/month on electricity to run the AC, that’s $100/month, or $1200/year in savings. You can see how the monthly savings could quickly add up to the purchase price of a new unit.

Air Conditioning System Installation Is No Small Deal

But it’s not quite as simple as buying a car! After all, your home is a beehive of different factors– square footage; the envelope (roof, walls); insulation; windows & doors; ductwork; outside climate and altitude; surrounding greenery (or desert), number of rooms; etc.

Any air conditioning contractor worth their salt should first take the time to analyze your home. Then he or she can make a recommendation as to the size and power of your AC. While you’re at it, you might want to include other factors on your shopping list, such as a programmable thermostat, or a fan-only switch for cooler nights when you can get by without the AC.

If the ductwork in your home is leaky or old, it would pay you to get an estimate on replacing that as well. No point in spending thousands on AC just to have all that freshly cool air escape through cracks in the pipes.

How To Choose an Air Conditioning Contractor and Live Coolly Ever After

Choosing an HVAC tech for installation might not be the equivalent of deciding whom to marry, but it’s big. The right ‘guy’ can save you money both on installation and in the long run.

Not only will you rely on him or her for advice on buying a system, but with any luck you’ll have an expert you can call on anytime the system needs service. (Or maybe the AC system will call for you; there is now an app that alerts the HVAC company as soon as it detects a malfunction in your system.)

As you’re talking with potential HVAC contractors (it’s best to get more than one estimate, and references), keep these points in mind:

Don’t try to replace either the outside unit or the inside unit without replacing the other. It’s asking for trouble.
Buy an AC with the highest SEER you can afford. You can calculate your payback period by figuring out roughly your monthly savings– what you were paying and what you estimate you’ll pay with the new system– and dividing them into the total cost of the unit and installation.
Make sure the AC you choose is neither too large nor too small for your home. Too large? you could have a humidity problem. Too small? you’re too hot.

Now that you’re a little further along in the thinking process, maybe you’d better get moving. The cooling season is just one more flip of the calendar!

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Is It Time to Invest in New Air Conditioning?

awilliams — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 18:48:10 +0000

Spring! Now that it’s time to think about cooling again, maybe you have a dim memory of wondering– way back last fall– whether it’s time to replace your air conditioning system.

The old recommendation was to replace the AC unit if it was more than 15 years old. But today, government and energy experts advise you to buy a new air conditioning system if the unit is more than 10 years old.

Of course, if you are convinced that your old Air Conditioner is still the most efficient appliance in the house, then bookmark this page and save it for next spring. But if you have doubts,here are some issues to include in your deliberations.

Checkpoint Charlie

Comfort

Whatever prompts you to invest in new Air Conditioning unit, comfort is probably at the top of the list.

If your home is too humid in the summer, if the unit is noisy, if certain corners of the house are less cool that you’d like . . . these are all factors that could indicate that you’re ready to upgrade.

Air conditioning has made great strides over the past decades– gotten quieter, more energy-efficient, and streamlined. You’ll probably be pleasantly surprised at how smoothly the new systems operate.

Cost

Air conditioners are graded according to their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). Older AC units might have a SEER as low as 6, but you can buy one now with a SEER as high as 28.

SEER ratings are the equivalent of miles per gallon for your car. A unit with a SEER rating of 20 is twice as efficient as one with a SEER rating of 10. If you swap out a SEER 10 for a SEER 20, you’ll get twice as much cooling power for the same amount of money.

When you consider the cost of a new AC, you should take into account the longterm savings. It’s kind of like an annual payback on your investment.

Convenience

International regulations banned certain types of coolants in an agreement known as the Montreal Protocol a few years ago. One banned substance, which had been used for more than 40 years, was the most common refrigerant in air conditioning systems.

You could be operating a system with an outlawed coolant at this moment. Since the refrigerant isn’t being manufactured anymore it may become harder to find and more expensive in the coming years. (By the way, this banned coolant is R-22; the trade name is Freon.)

Before you take the plunge, there are a few things to keep in mind as you start interviewing HVAC contractors.

First, the contractor should size your house, doing an analysis called a Manual J.

Improper sizing of the AC system for the specs of your home– including size, layout, climate, topography, and other factors– could result in a system that is too small (won’t cool; keeps shutting down and turning back on, AC won’t turn on) or too large (doesn’t remove humidity; expensive to operate).

Buy a new Air Conditioning unit with the highest SEER rating you can afford.

(See above on energy efficiency and saving money over the life of the system.)
Don’t let anyone try to convince you that you can replace either the outside compressor or the inside evaporator without replacing the other. Aside from the obvious dysfunction of cobbling together two separate systems, there may be discrepancies in the type of coolant used by each unit.

Consider adding insulation or new windows while you’re upgrading your AC.

If you make your house tighter, you may actually be able to switch to a smaller AC unit.
Ask your contractor about a thermal expansion valve if you live in a very hot area. If you live in a more moderate zone, ask about a switch that turns on just the fan. You might get away with turning off the AC most nights.

It’s costly to replace an AC, but at some point you will need to bite the bullet. Check out local hvac rebates and financing options on our web page.

And just keep reminding yourself: By the time summer comes, you’ll feel really comfortable with your decision.

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Indoor Air Quality. Breathing in the great indoors.

awilliams — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:08:42 +0000

While a cloud of smog might be the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the words, air quality, health officials these days tend to worry more about indoor air quality.

After all, we spend 90% of our time indoors. (Maybe more, if we live in a northern or rainy climate zone.) Our homes are climate-controlled and sealed up tight to conserve energy.

Researchers now are finding multiple connections between indoor air and illness. Not just for infection, which of course is spread more easily within a confined environment, but also between humidity and viruses, as well as asthma, respiratory illnesses like bronchitis, sinus problems, allergies, and headaches.

How’s your humidity?

Whether you are heating your house in winter or cooling it in summer, you might want to pay attention to humidity levels. While central air conditioning helps keep the humidity at a tolerable level, cooling with window units may cause humidity to fluctuate.

A recent study by government researchers showed that relative humidity of 43% or higher could cut the risk of infections down to 15% when a virus is present in the house. When humidity levels were below 23%, the flu virus retained a much higher infectious power, 71%.

A dried-out virus is a weak one, researchers explained. And it doesn’t take long to render the virus inoperative. In this experiment, the change in infectious power occurred within 15 minutes.

Many homes maintain humidity levels of 10% or less during the winter season. You can buy an inexpensive hygrometer at the hardware store that will measure the humidity level in your home.

Keep in mind that too-high humidity levels are not good, either. Moisture in the air feeds the growth of mold and other pathogens.

It’s not the heat or the humidity

Humidity is not the only culprit in bad air, of course. Many homes test positive for lead (from paint), formaldehyde and fire-retarding chemicals (from furniture), radon (from ground sources) and our own contributions (perfumes, household cleaners, cigarette smoke).

Then there are mites– tiny creatures that live in dust– as well as mold and pet dander. One doctor from the Cleveland Clinic says even people who don’t own pets often have dander in their homes. (He calls it a ‘community allergen’.)

While everyone is susceptible to these pollutants, very young children and elderly people are especially vulnerable. And the more airtight the home, the more risk.

Don’t be taken in by advertisements for ozone air purifiers. Ozone can scar your lungs; it’s a major component in smog. The American Lung Association specifically warns against ozone air purifiers.

Ways to clean your cloud

Simple cleaning and vacuuming are good– but they can also introduce problems. Here are some easy ways to make sure your hygiene isn’t harming your health.
Try to use household cleaners that don’t contain perfumes and deodorizers. Avoid laundry detergents that contain synthetic fragrances. Don’t buy plug-in air fresheners.
Use HEPA filters in your vacuum cleaner, and clean the filters frequently. For your heating and cooling system, ask your air conditioning contractor for filters with a MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) of 14-16.
Clean with water. Mopping picks up dust that vacuuming merely moves from one place to another.
Place a large mat near the door. You’d be surprised at how much gunk people carry in on their shoes. Better yet, ask people to remove their shoes before entering.
Use an exhaust fan or open a window while you’re cooking, running the dishwasher, or showering (to allow moisture to escape).
Install a vent to the outside on your clothes dryer if it doesn’t already have one. And make sure to clean it regularly so lint doesn’t build up.
Empty drip pans in your window AC and dehumidifier so water doesn’t pool there. The pans make excellent breeding ponds for bacteria.
Make your home a no-smoking zone. If you smoke, do it outside the house. Cigarette smoke contains thousands of chemicals; second-hand smoke increases the risk of childhood infections, asthma, cancer, and ear or lung infections.
Use natural means to make your home clean and healthy. Lemons and baking soda are great deodorizers. Plants are nature’s air purifiers.

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Air Conditioning: What’s the true impact on the environment?

awilliams — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 21:54:32 +0000

Here’s the good news: Over the past decade, as summers became hotter, air conditioning became 30% more efficient.

Bad news? Air conditioning usage doubled, which canceled out any gains in moderating climate change.

The world is getting warmer. People are having fewer children, but living in larger homes. The population is growing fastest in hot places like India or the American sunbelt. What does this mean for the average person who wants to be cool?

Cultural and personal

AC is a fairly new phenomenon. Before World War II, many areas were considered uninhabitable– at least to people from industrialized societies.

In the olden days, bodies adjusted physiologically to a hot environment. We moved more slowly. We took afternoon siestas and worked in the twilight hours. We wore loose-fitting clothes and blocked the sun from our homes.

Today it’s almost unthinkable to live in a hot place without AC. Modern high-rise buildings have windows that don’t open. Nobody is allowed to take the day off because it’s too hot. (In 2011, Dallas had an unprecedented 70 consecutive 100-degree days.)

And once people discover how to control their indoor climate, they don’t look back. One study showed that workers in Bangkok were comfortable until they were exposed to air conditioning. After that, they found the same office with natural ventilation unbearable.

World-wide air

The United States is the undisputed AC leader. The number of U.S. homes with air conditioning increased from 64 million to 100 million between 1993 and 2009.

But China is gaining on the U.S.; 50 million air-conditioning units were sold in China in 2010 alone.

It’s no secret that the great surge of air conditioning has paralleled global warming.

Scientists call this a feedback loop: The world is warmer so there’s more demand for AC, which in turn increases the warming trend which again spikes demand for AC . . . . and on and on.

Problem? There is no ‘off’ switch.

Technology shifts gears

Air conditioning is especially problematic in developing nations because the electricity to run the AC is produced by burning fossil fuels, generally coal. Coal is a major contributor to greenhouse gases.

In addition, while refrigerants such as R-22 that destroy the ozone layer are being phased out, newer substitutes contribute to the greenhouse effect.

In any case, the exploding popularity of air conditioning will offset the benefits of using more ozone-friendly chemicals. So why bother to improve the situation? We’re all doomed, right?

A light at the end of the . . . . shaft?

Well, for starters, air conditioning has made it possible for more people in more places to live comfortably and productively. If you are pro-human race, that’s a good thing.

Plus, the demand for AC, as well as its negative impact on the environment, have created a strong incentive for entrepreneurs, government, and industry to do something.

So we are. Here are a few of the technologies in development:

✓ Solar-powered AC may use a desiccant (like silica gel or calcium chloride) which sucks moisture out of the air instead of a coolant. This is considered cost-effective and energy-efficient. It’s a few years away from mass production.

✓ Chillers are thermal collectors that are heated and then used to cool the air. The technology, which is being implemented in Portugal, China, and Singapore, has been used for 150 years to make ice in the summer.

✓ Underground heat exchangers use the earth’s stable temperature to cool air or fluid. (Water is a more efficient conductor than air.) Called ‘earth tubes,’ this technology is well-suited to temperature zones where the earth doesn’t heat up much in the summer.

✓ For sure, all of these solutions are a bit of pie-in-the-sky. But while we’re waiting for new technology to save our bacon, we can do our part– by investing in the most energy-efficient system we can afford, by using AC wisely and monitoring its use (installing programmable thermostats and closing curtains during the heat of the day, for instance).

After all, no technological boon comes without its cost. We just need to keep working to make the world a cool place to live.

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Residential Heating & Cooling Tech Grows Stronger, Smarter, Greener

awilliams — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:28:22 +0000

A big part of the energy revolution in this country has been focused on making residential heating and cooling systems smarter, more efficient, and cleaner.

The government is funding research, but business has also stepped up. As they say, necessity is the mother of invention. And there’s no incentive like money to be made.

Breakthrough technologies

Here are a handful of developments large and small you can expect to see in your HVAC tech’s grab bag– if not already, then in the near future:

1. The Detective: P3 Kill A Watt

Electricity monitor tells you exactly how much power you’re consuming with an appliance. Just plug it into anything from a microwave oven to an air-conditioning unit and prepare for shock! (Or not.) Based in New York City, P3 International Corp. sells the device for about $26 on Amazon.

2. Smart Strip

Vampire power, as you probably know, is consumption that takes place when you think everything is dead. (Ever notice all those glowing green lights at night?)

This Smart Strip powers up all your devices when you turn on your computer. It can be programmed other ways as well. It’s a surge protector for $35 that easily pays for itself.

3. ECOBEE – Contractor Web Portal

How long does it usually take before someone notices that the heat is off in your home? The Contractor Web Portal from ecobee is a device that’s installed in your furnace. It alerts your HVAC guy as soon as it detects a problem. Ask your HVAC Contractor about it.

4. Air Conditioning With No Coolant

DEVap is an AC system that uses no coolant– thus solving the biggest pollution problem in residential climate control. Developed by the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), DEVap uses a dessicant (similar to rock salt or DampRid) which removes humidity without electricity. DEVap is in DEvelopment; NREL says it will work with industry to bring the product to market.

Prototype DEVap Cooling System

5. Highly Educated Devices, Hobbit Homes

You know how your computer seems to sense when you’re in the market for a new refrigerator? (Hint: It gathers clues from your searches and emails.) Well, this device ‘learns’ when you’re likely to be away from home, and your favorite temperature for each room; it monitors outside weather and indoor humidity; it can be adjusted from your car. The Nest learning thermometer sells for about $249 at Home Depot.

New Type Of Air-Cleaning Technology

Researchers at Washington University have come up with air-cleaning technology they say will cut down on allergens, viruses, and ultrafine particles in the home. While traditional air-cleaners trap viruses in the filter (where they can multiply) this technology irradiates micro-organisms. The researchers tested the technology on mice with weak immune systems, and the mice survived to endorse the product in ads. (Just kidding )

Green Roofs

Michigan State University scientists are working on green roofs. They say that 12% of roofs in Germany are composed of sod and living plants and the ‘field’ is growing 10-15% a year. Green roofs conserve energy, reduce the heat produced by urban areas, help roofing materials last longer, and provide a more pleasing environment.

Some visionaries believe that more of the so-called built environment could be composed of natural substances over the next decades. This would reduce pollution and the depletion of natural resources such as oil and wood, and facilitate recycling. (Let Nature do it!)

Imagine a world filled with hobbit-like dwellings!

Okay, maybe hobbit homes are a little far-fetched. But the real story is almost as compelling: Human ingenuity is rising to the challenge of climate change and dwindling resources.

Now that’s a future we can live with.

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The American Revolution: We’re Winning Again

awilliams — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 10:28:20 +0000

Green energy is rapidly taking hold

A revolution is transforming how Americans use and think about energy, says Bloomberg New Energy Finance.

It’s an all-American green revolution! And this time, everybody wins.

“Factbook 2013” was commissioned by the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), a coalition of companies from the natural gas and renewable energy/efficiency industries.

The BCSE might have a somewhat biased perspective on green power, but the 17-page Factbook is filled with . . . well, facts.

Such as . . . (excuse the cherry-picking; the report is too long to reproduce in full):

Download

✓ The price of solar power has dropped in three years from 31 cents per kWh to 15 cents per kWh. (Wind power has only dropped a penny during the same time period, from 9 cents to 8 cents.)
✓ Renewables’ contribution to our energy grid doubled in the between 2009 and 2012, to 85.7 GW (gigowatts), and that figure doesn’t include large hydro projects. (It’s still only about 13% of total U.S. energy production.)
✓ Over the past five years, energy use fell by 6.4% while the economy grew 3%.
✓ U.S. CO2 emissions have dropped back to where they were in 1994.
✓ While the U.S.– with renewables at 57%– is ahead of China in its use of renewable energy and natural gas, it hasn’t caught up with Canada (71%).
✓ Americans spent $4.6 billion on smart meters just last year. Now here are the real heroes of the revolution! You! Homeowners!

Going solar is no longer like burning dollars

Homeowners have embraced solar in a big way now that the price is more affordable. Solar spending for residential applications will quadruple over the next four years, to $5.7 billion, according to Clean Technica.

We’ve been using less energy in our homes for the past 30 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency. Not surprisingly, the lowest per capita use of energy tends to be in big urban areas with apartment buildings, where people take the subway to work. The highest energy consumers live in places where people with big houses congregate in suburbs requiring a long commute.

Washington, California, and Oregon top the list of states with the most power generated from renewable sources (think hydro). However, Texas now boasts the highest amount of electric power produced by wind, geomass and biothermal. One-hundred percent energy from renewable sources could be feasible, and within our lifetimes.

Maybe with all of the despair about climate change and power consumption, there is a light at the end of the tunnel– and it’s powered by solar.

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Things to Keep in Mind Before New AC Installation

awilliams — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:50:08 +0000

So this is the year you’re finally going to replace that clunky old air conditioner.

If you have a good AC contractor, you’re already one step ahead in the game. But even if you haven’t yet selected a contractor, you can get yourself prepared to make the right decision.

The EPA says that AC installation should be guided by four factors:

Energy efficiency,
performance,
reliability,
and cost.

Not surprisingly, some of those factors overlap.

For example, the higher the energy efficiency (what’s called the SEER– for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating), the higher the initial cost of the system. The payoff comes down the road, as you save 30% or 60% or more on your annual electric bills.

Performance is directly related to the size of the unit and whether it’s appropriate for your home. Your AC contractor can do an assessment, and help you choose a system that’s neither too large or too small for the job.

This will directly affect the reliability and ultimate operating cost. If the new Air Conditioning is too large for your home, it will cycle on and off frequently, wearing down parts and doing a poor job of dehumidification.

One factor that stands a bit outside this little guideline is the environmental impact. Air conditioners have become commonplace over the past few decades. In fact, in places like Mexico, people have adapted to an American-style work day by skipping the siesta. This has forced them to work during the heat of the day and resulted in more AC. This has the perverse effect of increasing global warming . . . . which leads to more AC.

R22 vs R410-A

But there are things we can do to mitigate the effect of technology on our planet. One is to make sure your new system does not use the old refrigerant, R-22, which was highly damaging to the ozone layer. There is a replacement called R410-A, which is environmentally more benign.

You might want to discuss this with your AC contractor, to make sure that any R-22 coolant in your old AC system is removed, recovered, and recycled properly.

Ultimately, you will need to work with an AC contractor you can trust. The best way to do this is to located qualified HVAC techs through the our website. Then bone up on the subject. There is a ton of information on our website here. If there is confusion, you can ask our experts.

There are just a few major points:

You will want to invest in the best system you can afford. Don’t believe anyone who tells you to have the indoor or outdoor unit replaced without changing out the other one. Make sure your AC contractor gives you a ‘whole-house’ assessment that takes into account your climate, exposure to the sun, size of the house, windows, insulation, ductwork . . . the works!

Then relax and chill out this summer!

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