The 411 on Solar-Assisted Air Conditioning
An air conditioner is a modern luxury and convenience that most people have in their homes. This appliance is a great benefit in the summer months, when temperatures are uncomfortably high. And while you could live without an air conditioner, you certainly wouldn’t want to if you had any choice-at least until your monthly utility bill arrives. Then, you might wish you didn’t have to use so much energy to keep cool.
But what if you could stay chill and have low monthly energy bills during the summer?
With solar-assisted air conditioning, you don’t have to choose one option or the other-you can conveniently have both. Below, we detail everything you need to know about this type of cooling system, including how it cools down your home and lowers your home’s energy use. Read on to discover why this appliance is the perfect investment for you.
What Is Solar-Assisted Air Conditioning?
Solar-assisted air conditioning, as you may have guessed, is a type of cooling system that relies on solar energy for power. Most systems use photovoltaic conversion, a process that directly turns sunlight into electricity. Solar panels rest on top of the unit and collect sunlight during the day. The panels then convert that energy into pure electricity that the appliance uses to cool down warm outside air and pump cold air into your home.
Additionally, some models of solar-assisted air conditioners integrate high-quality solar panels that can still function on days when the sun doesn’t shine much. These units can use whatever solar resources are available, in addition to whatever solar power has been temporarily stored in the panels, to keep energy use low and cooled air output high.
What Benefits Does This Type of Cooling Offer?
Like any solar-powered energy system, a solar-assisted air conditioner provides you with numerous benefits. The biggest benefit is that this appliance makes your home more energy efficient and sustainable. Since the unit essentially produces its own power, you don’t have to rely on the city’s main power grid to cool down your home. When you use less fossil-fueled energy, you help the environment.
The system can also let you use the solar-powered electricity for other purposes. For example, if your A/C produces excess electricity, you can use that energy to power other parts of your home, such as the lighting or other appliances. And, if you use less energy than your unit produces, your city’s municipality could pay you to use your extra energy.
You may also be eligible for state and federal tax credits when you make your home energy sustainable.
How Long Will a Solar-Assisted Unit Last?
Like all appliances, you have to properly care for and maintain your solar-assisted air conditioner. But, when you regularly clean the appliance and have it repaired or tuned up frequently, you enhance its life expectancy.
On average, a solar-assisted air conditioner will last for about 15 years or so. Traditional air conditioners have a similar lifespan, but with fewer benefits. However, solar-assisted units have higher Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratios (SEER) than regular cooling systems. The higher an appliance’s SEER rating, the more efficient it is and the better it works. And the more proficient an air conditioner is, the longer it is likely to last.
What Kind of Care Will I Have to Perform on the System?
By now, you’re probably wondering if you have to do anything special to preserve a solar-assisted cooling system. You will have to schedule regular maintenance and tune-ups on the main parts of the appliance. And to keep the solar panels in good, working condition, you should occasionally wash off the solar collectors with water.
If you have any other questions about how to maintain your solar-assisted air conditioner, talk to your HVAC specialist. He or she can tell you exactly what you can do between tune-ups to further preserve its lifespan.
How Reliable Is This Technology?
Over the last several decades, solar technology has advanced exponentially. Now, the way this technology works has been perfected, and it’s been used to power buildings in a number of ways. HVAC experts simply added the technology to air conditioners to make cooling homes more energy efficient.
And, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the technology will only be more readily available to US citizens. If more people use solar energy to power their air conditioners-and their homes-the more likely they are to benefit the environment.
Are you ready to get more out of your air conditioner than just cold air? Use the information in this article to determine if a solar-assisted air conditioner is the right option for your home. When you’re ready to invest in this type of cooling system, contact the HVAC experts at C.B. Lucas Heating & Air Conditioning.
We’ll send a technician to your home to evaluate the space and determine the best location for your solar-assisted air conditioner. Then, we’ll install it as quickly and efficiently as possible so you can reap all the benefits we mentioned above. We can also provide you with a few maintenance tips so you can keep this cooling system in good, working condition.