What You Need To Know To Make
The Solar Powered Air
Conditioner Work For You
Ahh..yeah Cool breezes are always welcomed. Learn what you can do
to make a solar powered air conditioner work for you. Discover
what
you
can do to
get a cool breeze from the sun's power.
A Solar Powered Air Conditioner Can Help You Lower Your Cooling Bill
Anyone who's looked at their summer cooling and electric bill, has had the thought cross their mind about having a solar powered air conditioner.
HVAC energy costs are estimated to be about 15% of the United States' total energy load, and upwards of 40% for countries on the desert like Dubai.
The Solar Air Conditioning - It's Not What You Think It Is
Solar powered air conditioners do exist, but they're not (generally) what you think of when you think of solar power systems.
First and foremost, remember that the rule of solar power air conditioners is efficiency. The most efficient system wins, and this matters more than 'the hottest new technology'.
- What this means is that slapping a photovoltaic cell on your existing air conditioner isn't exactly the best way to make a solar air conditioning a reality.
The Two Categories Of Solar Powered Air Conditioners
There are two broad categories of solar air conditioning:
- Those that can be retrofitted onto an existing building, and
- Those that need to be built into the existing construction.
Solar Air Conditioning Choices Range From The Very Expensive To The Very Cheap
Solar air conditioning cover the entire gamut from very cheap to terrifyingly expensive.
The Cheapest Form Of Solar Conditioning Isn't An Air Conditioner At All - It's A Cool Roof.
- It's putting a 'cool roof' on your home (with colors that are chosen to reflect and re-emit sunlight), and
- Combining it with a dead air space between your attic and the roof underneath.
A cool roof can reduce the cooling costs of your home tremendously.
- For homes where this isn't practical, putting in a photovoltaic system to power circulating fans in the attic is a cheap alternative.
Desiccant Solar Air Conditioning
More extensive solar powered air conditioners use desiccant based cooling systems.
In a desiccant based cooling system, the sun heats up a working fluid which goes past a desiccant, pulling the moisture from one end of the cycle, and releasing it on another.
- A small photovoltaic system can keep the fans needed to keep this type of solar powered air conditioner running.
Desiccant cooling systems can be retrofitted into existing homes, but they move well into the realm of needing power tools and handyman skills.
Cool Roofs And Solar Desiccant 'cooling stills' Are The Lower End Of Solar Thermal Systems For Cooling A Building.
The most basic desiccant cooling system still is the good old fashioned swamp cooler.
- This uses a fan to blow across a shallow pan of water, so that it can evaporate.
- It works in dry climates, but not humid ones.
- Many of these can be run entirely on passive solar thermal energy and easy to set up and maintain.
Building-In Solar Air Conditioning Is A Way For New Homeowners To Keep It Cool
When coupled with new construction solar air conditioning can take some innovative techniques.
For example, you can create solar powered air conditioning by building a wall with a neutral colored outer layer with water heating tubes running through it.
- Then, you can incorporate a deep floor reservoir which will allow you to cycle cool water from under your home to the wall that faces the sun.
- This allows the water to heat up, circulate, then be stored in a hot water tank for later use - with the cool water functioning as a solar powered air conditioner.
The Solar-Fed Breezeway - Another Solar Cooling Techniques That Can Be Used
The solar-fed breezeway is a variation on 'farmhouse cooling' from the 18th century.
You can achieve this effect by opening the attic windows at the top of the home and opening the kitchen door at the bottom.
- The temperature differential can pull air through the home.
Other Ways To Use Solar Energy To Help With Home Cool.
There are many other ways you can use the sun's energy to cool your home, such as:- Creating smart blinds that open and close depending on the amount of sunlight they're getting,
- Using greenery on a roof to regulate temperature by having the roof absorb water and reflect sunlight back at the sky.
Not all of these solar cooling ideas are practical, but there are enough variations in the techniques available that it's possible to make a home that has zero energy requirements for summer cooling or winter heating in a large number of climates across the US.
Solar Air Conditioning - The Bottom-Line.
Ultimately, making a solar powered air conditioner starts from looking at the air flow and sunlight patterns of your home.
You'll want to figure out what mechanisms are practical for you to implement. Some can be quite cost effective.
- Even replacing the insulation on your ceiling can have a noticeable impact on your summer cooling bills.
We Want To Hear From You...What Are YOUR Thoughts On Solar Powered Air Conditioners?
Do you have some thoughts on whether or not solar powered air conditioners are REALLY worth all the fuss? Share it!
What Other Visitors Have Said About Solar Powered Air Conditioners
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