Interesting facts on the Impact of your Air Conditioner on the Environment

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Introduction to Air Conditioners

While some decades ago, AC systems (Air Conditioning) were considered a luxury appliance and just for people who can afford them, nowadays they have become a standard component if not a must in every house. They provide a comfortable indoor environment with a controlled humidity level that brings relief to the inhabitants. This invention was first introduced in 1902 in the newspaper industry by an engineer named Willis Carrier. At that time, there was a challenging problem with color printing. The problem was that it took some time for the ink to get dried and as a result magazine papers would absorb it and expand. Therefore, colors didn’t come out correctly and they were already washed out. Pages had to be printed though, and as an engineer in Sackett-Wilhelms Lithographing & Publishing Company, Willis came out with an innovative solution of blowing cold air on papers through pipes that were filled with cool water. He wanted to accelerate the process of cooling the water and so he added a refrigerator and that was the first electrical Air Conditioner.

Before the invention of AC Systems, industries and offices couldn’t provide comfort for workers in the summer, as a result, employees used to take off from May to June and come back in October. But once Air Conditioners became available, workers were expected to work for the entire year. Since that time, i.e., 1902, the technology hasn’t really changed that much. Air Conditioners use electricity to transfer heat from the cool refrigerator to the warm indoor environment. It goes through the cold indoor coil and then to a hot outdoor coil which releases the collected heat energy outside.

Impact of Air Conditioner on the Environment

As Air Conditioning systems are packed with gases such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HFCs-22 also known as R-22) for cooling, they could leak-out of the unit during a period of time. These chemical compounds are light and will head straight to the ozone layer and cause more damages. Of course, the ozone layer shields the earth from ultraviolet rays that cause a significant increase in global warming every year. This is not the only reason for the exacerbation, an AC system simply relies on electricity to run and the source of its power itself is even more damaging for the environment. Petroleum, coil and natural gas used to power generation contribute to global warming, not to mention the contained waterways and soil. The United States on its own uses the same amount of energy on Air Conditioning as the whole continent of Africa. On average, US families spend annually $2,000 on energy bills and half of it is for keeping their homes warm or cool. Also, it is believed that an increase of 5 to 9 percent in mortality is potentially due to air pollution and the increase in electricity demand on power plants.

Another problem is the local thermal pollution in populated urban areas with high population density. This problem happens when multiple air conditioners run at once resulting in the generation of heat and expulsion of thermal energy from indoors to the local environment and ultimately the atmosphere. This causes cities to become warmer than the countryside around them. The ducts in Air Conditioners collect bacteria, dust, and other particles and they all get released once the AC is on. These particles pose safety threats as they are toxic for adults and children especially. AC Systems were previously made of metal for a period of time; however, since metal was expensive and too heavy, manufacturers decided to use plastic instead of metal. It is a well-known fact that plastic is completely non-biodegradable, and so it’s harmful to the environment because the production process alone is extremely detrimental, as it comes from petrol.

Alternative Solutions

• Portable Air Conditioners

Portable Air Conditioners are a great way to keep your room cool and save money. Since they are portable, you don’t have to cool the entire room. Portable Air Conditioners allow you to cool specific areas, like around the sofa, in front of the TV, etc.

• Window Air Conditioners

As their name implies, Window Air Conditioners are installed directly into the window, or through the wall. Hot air will vent through the back from the half sticking out.

Window Air Conditioners are considered extremely efficient as they are Energy Star rated. Like portable Air Conditioners, they can cool a particular area of the house. They have high demand because they reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and our carbon footprint.

• Air Fans

Typical good old fans don’t require any installation or complicated ductwork, they can be simply plugged-in and used. Air fans are the most efficient of all mentioned solutions to the point that you won’t notice a bump in your bills.

Tips

Below describe some simple tips

1. You can raise your thermostat one degree every day until you find a sweet spot that can provide safe comfort for you. This temperature doesn’t need to be a chilling cold and so can save money on your energy bills.
2. Always keep your ducts, vents and the AC unit clear so that it won’t run excessively. This will reduce maintenance costs and improve its durability by slowing wear and tear.
3. Consider getting a more environmentally friendly power source, try installing solar panels on your roof or see if wind, geothermal or hydroelectric power are an available option in your region.
4. Newer AC systems are more efficient than older ones and they use less toxic gases as refrigerants. Therefore, it is better to upgrade your AC to newer energy-efficient certified technologies.