Latest trends in air conditioning

Find out how air conditioning systems are becoming more efficient, better for the environment and discover how they could even save you money.

Air conditioning is great for improving comfort, health and productivity but it can use up a lot of energy, which is why there is a new trend towards cheaper to run and more environmentally friendly air con systems. Here are some of the latest innovations:

More efficient inverter air conditioning models

Inverter air conditioning models
are around 30% more efficient
then non-inverters

“All of our air con systems are inverter controlled now. These models have really swept the market and the government is trying hard to encourage their use,” says Viki Beaney, of ACS Air Conditioning Services in Surrey.

In non inverted air conditioners, the compressor works constantly at a fixed speed until the room is cooled to the desired temperature, then in switches off. When the temperature rises the compressor turns back on again. Inverter models are more efficient because they operate at a constant varying speed depending on the room temperature and do not stop and start. This makes them quieter, more efficient and up to 50% cheaper to run. Viki explains: “Inverters are 30% more efficient than other models, which means you save money in energy bills over time.”

Using heat pumps for air conditioning

Ground, water and particularly air source heat pumps have become a popular alternative for both heating and cooling the home; “People are really interested in air source pumps like the Altherma model at the moment,” agrees Viki.

Heat pumps are very eco-friendly because they utilise natural heat from the ground, air or water to provide heating or air conditioning. “In the summer pumps work in reverse to cool your home,” explains Frank Harris, of H.D Services Ltd in Bucks “Pumps have an efficiency ratio of around 4:1, so they produce on average four times the energy they need to run. ”

Heat pumps can also be used
for air conditioning

Air source heat pumps like the Daikin Altherma model are popular because they are combined with an inverter for greater efficiency and can also be fitted with solar tubes for hot water heating. Helen Durose from Evergreen Renewables, Derbyshire says: “If you have less space than an air source heat pump can just fit on the back of your house and is about the size of a fridge.”

You will save money on fuel bills with a pump for heating and cooling your home. The Energy Saving Trust calculates that if you replace your gas heating with a pump you could save around £190 a year in bills. To make pumps even more environmentally friendly, you can use solar or wind power to provide the electricity to power the pumps.

The cost of air source heat pumps will vary depending on size, but the Low Carbon Buildings Programmes is offering grants of up to £2,500 towards installing heat pumps until April 2011.

Environmentally friendly refrigerants for air conditioning

Air conditioning systems need to use refrigerants, which can be very damaging to the environment if leaked, so regulations now exist to control their use. In the past it was common to use HCFC’s and HFC’s which give off F-gases (fluorinated greenhouse gases), but these have now been banned or are being phased out.

“As of January you cannot get virgin (new) R22 refrigerant which was commonly used,” explains Viki. “For maintaining those systems You can only use recycled R22 which has significantly Increased in price and Will not be around forever.”

It is essential to have your air
conditioning system
regularly maintained

Refrigerants are classed in terms of their Global Warming Potential (GWP) which measures how much global warming is caused by 1kg of refrigerant in comparison to 1kg of CO2. New alternatives for air con systems use refrigerants with a lower GWP like ammonia, hydrocarbons, FCS’s and C02.

Viki advises: “Most people are deciding to completely upgrade their air conditioning instead to ones that use gases like R410.”

Air conditioning maintenance

According to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), it is not uncommon for there to be between a 10 and 30% leakage per year of refrigerant from air con systems. New, better designed models are now on the market, but regular maintenance checks can also prevent leaks from occurring and will ensure your air con runs as efficiently as possible. Viki stresses that: “It is so important to maintain your air conditioning system properly, otherwise you may be leaking refrigerant and it could invalidate your warranty if you don’t have regular checks carried out by a professional.”

Cleaning filters and maintenance checks will ensure the longevity of the system parts and could save you money by identifying small problems before they develop into full blown faults. “Domestic customers should have a service at least once a year, businesses tend to have one more often,” Viki says.