What Type of AC is More Energy Efficient?
In the modern world, energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important. Both domestic consumers and commercial businesses want their appliances to be more environmentally friendly, as well as being as cheap as possible to run.
In the modern world, energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important. Both domestic consumers and commercial businesses want their appliances to be more environmentally friendly, as well as being as cheap as possible to run.
In this blog post, we take a look at the main types of air conditioning units and their comparative energy efficiency ratios (EERs). Finally, we discuss what kind of air conditioning system should opt for if you’re aiming to reduce your carbon footprint and utility bills.
What Are The Benefits Of Air Conditioning Units?
The addition of an air conditioning unit to your workplace or home makes it easy to keep your environment at a stable, comfortable temperature all year-round. The benefits of this are better sleep and/or concentration, and ultimately an improved quality of life.
What is an EER?
EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures the ratio of cooling capacity (in British thermal units or Btu) relative to its power input (in Watts). You calculate the EER by dividing the Btu by the wattage. For example, if a 12,000-Btu air conditioner consumes 1,200 watts, its EER is 10 (12,000 Btu/1,200 watts)
The higher the Energy Efficiency Ratio, the more efficient the unit is. The more efficient it is, the lower the running costs and impact on the environment. However, air conditioners with higher EERs are usually more expensive to purchase.
Exploring Split Systems vs. Portable Air Conditioners
There are two main types of air conditioning; installed split systems and portable air conditioners.
Installed Split Systems
Installed split systems consist of two main components; they have one unit outside which contains a compressor and condenser, and one unit inside which houses an evaporator and an air handler. The two units are connected by refrigerant lines, which must be installed by a qualified professional.
The outdoor unit blows the heat outside, whilst the indoor unit circulates cooler air into the room.
Installed split systems are by far the more energy efficient type of air conditioning unit, outperforming other types of unit. The higher the EER the better, but as a rough guide, EERs above 12 are the most efficient types of split systems. These can offer you significant savings on your utility bills as well as having a lower environmental impact.
Other advantages of split systems are that they’re fairly quiet and able to cool large areas without the need for ducting hot air outside via a window.
Portable air conditioning units
Portable air conditioners are units which, as the name suggests, can be moved from room to room. They include an exhaust hose which is used to expel the hot air from the room, usually via a window.
There are plenty of benefits to portable air conditioning units. They are convenient for occasional use, for example by renters and homeowners wishing to cool different areas of their house without the need for permanent installation. They also require a significantly lower upfront investment.
However, unlike a split system, the exhaust hose must be vented outside of the room. This can be cumbersome, and may result in hot air infiltrating the room via the window, which reduces the effectiveness and energy efficiency of the unit.
How to choose the right air conditioning unit
Selecting the right type of air conditioning system for you comes down to several factors, including the size space you want to cool, how often you envisage using the air conditioning, your budget, and regard for ongoing costs as well as the environmental impact.
Although portable air conditioning units are cheaper and do not require specialist installation, they are more expensive to run due to their lower energy efficiency. For occasional use, for example in the very height of summer, this might not be such an important consideration. If you’re looking for an air conditioning unit that you can move from room to room then these are the type to look out for.
On the other hand, split systems with an EER above 12 are the best from both an environmental and ongoing cost perspective, providing the most cost-effective cooling solutions. Particularly suitable for bigger spaces such as commercial offices or large domestic properties where the air conditioning will be used very regularly, the higher initial investment to purchase and install the unit can be offset by the reduction in running costs which could add up to hundreds of pounds a year.
Get in touch today!
If you’re considering air conditioning for your domestic or commercial property, explore our large range of air conditioning units.
If you would like advice or help with choosing the right air conditioning unit for you, get in touch today! We’d be only too happy to help. Email generalenquiries@sunbeltsales.co.uk or call 0330 175 9558 to speak with our experts.