As science and technology have been increasingly developing, more and more modern devices and machines are created to serve human’s daily life. Among them, air conditioners have become ubiquitous and favorable in recent years.
You, and I, also desire comfort and cool air in some scorching hot days in the summer, right? It is rational indeed. However, have you ever thought of the environmental effects of these air conditioning units?
We all know air conditioners are operated with a large amount of fossil fuel and electricity, which does harm to our planet. The reason is that AC units’ carbon emission would cause greenhouse effects and Ozone depletion, and running air conditioning is very electricity-consuming also. So, what should we do so that we can enjoy our life and save our world at the same time?
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Here I bring you the answer: eco-friendly air conditioners. I will help you understand more about crucial features when looking for an AC unit, discover monumental advantages of environmentally friendly air conditioning, and then provide you a list of 5 best eco-friendly air conditioners based on buyers’ reviews.
Characteristics Of Eco-Friendly Air Conditioners
To choose a “green” air conditioning, you need to know which factors will contribute to making eco-friendly machines. Now, let’s take a closer look at decisive elements of whether your air conditioners are eco-friendly or not and how to use them efficiently.
Size Matters
An undersized air conditioning could not keep your home cool but would keep wasting electricity and running up your energy bills.
In contrast, an oversize AC unit is not able to balance the air-cooled in the condenser of the air conditioner with the humid and expended air which the evaporator draws out from home.
Two-Stage Compressors
You might know the part that uses the most electricity of an air conditioning unit is the compressors.
The compressors ought to work under high capacity to squeeze out the heated vapors in order that the refrigerant turns into a cool state. Therefore, two-stage compressors are recommended because they automatically compress less on cooler days and more in hot weather to save energy.
Customized Matched Systems
Using different sources of energy for cooling and heating may make your air conditioners more energy-efficient.
You should choose an AC unit that you can customize each component namely the thermostat, indoor coils, create systems, and cooling needs.
Geothermal Heat Pumps
The earth is seen as a heat sink for geothermal heat pumps to capitalize on the natural heat from a warm area to a cool one. It is 40% more efficient at cooling your home than conventional air conditioning units.
Consequently, lower electricity expenses will make up for pricey install cost.
Programmable Thermostats
A programmable thermostat would be an effective method to green up an air conditioning system.
You can program the thermostat to turn off when your home has no one and automatically on and cool your home for family members’ return.
Regular Maintenance
No matter how good your air conditioner is, you still need regular maintenance, at least once a year, including testing refrigerant pressure, accessing the unit’s airflow, and checking for leaks.
Specialists may also suggest modifications to boost the system’s energy efficiency.
Replacing Air Conditioners
More than 89 million air conditioning units in the USA are over ten-year-old. They might have been operating well below the standards of environmental and energy efficiency today.
Nevertheless, sometimes the optimal choice is to replace existing AC units with eco-friendly air conditioners.
Benefits Of Environmentally Friendly Air Conditioning
So far you have already picked up some tips to buy as well as use an air conditioner in a greener and more effective manner. Now, you need to understand thoroughly why we need to use eco-friendly air conditioners and what the positive impacts on our environment are.
You will see it is worth opting for an energy-saving AC unit. Let’s begin!
Reduce energy bills
Using an energy-saving air conditioning system can reduce your energy bills in several ways. It can reduce the power needed to run the pumping system and cool the air and conserve cool air and energy which can be used later on.
As many Australian reckon would claim that air conditioners are indispensable, the reduction of the electric bill is a very appealing benefit from an eco-friendly product.
Also, you should consult a professional to find out exactly how the alternative can save your money on the energy bills.
Reduce harmful emissions
When you reduce the amount of energy consumed, you can diminish toxic emissions put into the atmosphere by power factories in your area.
Air conditioners alone, however, give off their own emissions, so environmentally friendly alternatives would help eliminate these emissions completely.
A geothermal heat pump system is a perfect illustration of this case. That system will recirculate cool air from underground, which does not release any emissions and does good for the ecological environment.
Prolong lifespan
Geothermal heat pumps along with ice battery power systems are likely to last longer than conventional central air systems or window units. As estimated, the geothermal heat pump system can work well up to 30 years thanks to the lack of moving parts.
Moreover, you are probably offered 50-year warranties on features related to the geothermal heat pumps from some manufacturing companies.
One more point that makes the air-conditioners last longer is that no external parts are included. Each part of the system is installed in the home, leading to its longer lifespan.
Operate more quietly
You know how loud window air conditioning is when operating, or even the central air system and duct system still make noise which may annoy you when you and your family are sleeping at night.
To limit that problem, eco-friendly air conditioners come to be quieter even if they run at full capacity.
For instance, a geothermal heat pump without moving parts will produce less noise. Thus, it would be a system distributing cool or warm air in your home while still keeping silent.
Top 5 Best Eco-Friendly Air Conditioning Units
#5 Frigidaire cool connect 6000
- Type: Window
- BTU: 6,000
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
This window-style unit, though not very common, may stand a chance because of its sleek design, modern mesh grille, and LED light system.
One of the most outstanding features of Frigidaire cool connect is its wifi connection, which means you can control, adjust, and changes modes by the companion app on your smartphone. Specifically, it is even compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Such technological innovation!
Pros:
- Compatible with smart devices
- Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support
- Programmable schedules
Cons:
- Materials are fragile
- Can run a bit loud
#4 Honeywell MN12CES
- Type: Portable
- BTU: 12,000
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
The portable air conditioning unit is supremely convenient because you can literally roll and move it around your room. The filter will help sort out dust and particles in the atmosphere, and it is also washable.
You will be pleased with the very simple digital controls which help you choose three-fan speed or energy-saving mode. In summer days with high humidity, a dehumidifier of the AC unit does work and makes you feel more comfortable.
Pros:
- Easy to move around your home
- Energy-saving mode
- Simple storage and cleaning
- Includes remote controller
- Dehumidifying function
Cons:
- Hose can be an eye-sore for some people
#3 Whynter ARC-14S
- Type: Portable
- BTU: 14,000
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
The Whyter AR 14S is one of the highest-rated eco-friendly air conditioners found on Amazon. Although this is a window-air air conditioning, it makes hardly any big noise like its counterparts.
By using the unit, you can cool down very quickly thanks to its cold, clean, and filter airflow. There are 3 separate modes including regular cooling, power-saving fan-only, and dehumidifying, so you can choose your preferred one.
Moreover, it possesses a 24-hour timer setting, eco-friendly CFC-free refrigerant (means no harmful emissions), and a condensation auto-drain feature.
Pros:
- High Amazon ratings
- Three different modes
- Automatically drains condensation
Cons:
- Air blows mostly upward only
#2 Pioneer Mini Split AC with Heat Pump
- Type: Wall-Mounted
- BTU: 12,000
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
This AC unit seems to be suitable for a homeowner because it has some parts, namely the unit, a remote controller, and a heat pump component. You have to do more work to install the air conditioner, but it practically pays for itself.
One of the prime attributes is its ultra-high efficiency inverter which obviously saves much more energy and fits the mold of many green units. Besides, the Pioneer Mini Split AC is whisper-quiet, so don’t worry about disruption during your nights of sleep.
Pros:
- Goes with a heat pump and remote control
- Dehumidifies
- High-efficiency inverter
Cons:
- Pricey
- Very involved setup
#1 Tosot Window Air Conditioner
- Type: Window
- BTU: 8,000
- Energy Star Certified: Yes
This AC provides a great value for your budget owning to its prominent functions. The small-sized air conditioning is very powerful with intuitive remote control and a cleanable filter system.
Additionally, Tosot is added another function besides cooling, it is a fan-only mode for extra energy saving and dehumidifying of course.
The most eco-friendly feature of Tosot is “smart temperature control” which means the device will regulate the temperature based on the current weather status outside remotely around the included controller is.
Pros:
- Smart temperature control
- Intuitive remote controller
- Nice design
- Three separate modes
Cons:
- The smart temperature control totally depends on the remote.
Are you satisfied with the top 5 eco-friendly air conditioners recommended below? Hope you are! In addition to see the list, don’t forget to read carefully some pieces of advice on key elements when getting a new energy-efficient AC.
I hope that the huge benefits of using environmentally friendly air conditioning could convince you to switch if you are currently not using an eco-friendly machine. Let’s go green together.
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