Specialists share insights on how to keep air conditioning affordable
As the planet warms and weather extremes become mainstays, hundreds of millions of people around the world are in dire need of air conditioning.
In Brazil, roughly four out of 10 households have air conditioning, and 14% of residential electricity demand is generated by cooling, according to the CMCC Foundation. By the middle of the next decade, those numbers could increase to over 9 out of ten households. Furthermore, the need for air conditioning is not just in the developing world or hot weather places.
In 2008, a report found that only 0.5% of houses and apartments in the United Kingdom had air conditioning. Historically, the U.K. has needed more heating than cooling. However, in recent summers, the U.K. has experienced one heat wave after another. 2022 brought on the first ever red warning as temperatures have been projected to reach as high as 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), according to CNN.
Air conditioning shipment rates in the U.S. are known to wax and wane. Since 2010, the market has mostly been expanding – from 3.4 million units shipped in 2010 to 6.2 million in 2021, according to Statista.
Lately, MRCOOL, a Kentucky-based manufacturer known for its innovative DIY ductless units, has seen an increase in sales. The company’s “Comfort Made Simple” slogan is resonating with an increasing number of people.
To ensure people can afford air conditioning, MRCOOL’s specialists share insights on keeping air conditioning as affordable as possible.
Making good choices early
There are many different types of air conditioning that people use in their homes. The offerings are varied from the cheapest window unit to the most expensive geothermal setup. Pricing tends to be one of the biggest drivers behind the choices people make when purchasing an air conditioning system. However, there are other important factors to consider before making a purchase.
Some AC options are more elaborate and expensive than others. A window AC is cheaper than a ductless mini-split; a ductless mini-split is cheaper than a central system; a central system is cheaper than a geothermal system. However, using window ACs to cool down a big house isn’t economically practical. Conversely, central systems might be great for big houses, but if a house doesn’t have ducts, it can significantly increase the cost of the installation.
The most expensive system to install is the geothermal system. Even though it has a higher initial cost, the savings, low maintenance levels and overall longevity usually pay off in the long run. This makes it a great HVAC option for people with a property that can host the installation and who can afford the upfront cost.
قد تكون أجهزة التكييف المصغرة الخالية من مجاري الهواء رخيصة التركيب. المدخر الحقيقي للمال في هذا الصدد هو مضخة حرارية صغيرة الحجم مثل MRCOOL DIY ، والتي تم تحديثها مؤخرًا بجيلها الرابع وهي مجانية التثبيت. لا تتطلب هذه الأنظمة موظفين مرخصين للتثبيت ، فقط الوصول إلى بعض الأدوات والاستعداد للمشاركة في بعض أعمال DIY. هذا يعني أنه يمكن للناس أن يتخلصوا من آلاف الدولارات من النفقات مع الاستمرار في الحصول على مضخة تحافظ على البرودة في الصيف ودافئة في الشتاء.
ثم هناك تكلفة العملية. بعض الأنظمة أكثر كفاءة من غيرها. بشكل عام ، يجب على المستهلكين النظر في SEER - نسبة كفاءة الطاقة الموسمية - للنظام. كلما كان المناخ أكثر سخونة ، كانت المدخرات أفضل من نظام SEER العالي. قد يكون للأجزاء المختلفة من النظام تصنيفات مختلفة لـ SEER ، لذلك من المهم أيضًا مطابقتها جيدًا ، وإلا فلن يعمل المكثف على النحو الأمثل ، وسيعاني معالج الهواء من الإكراه الذي لا داعي له.