Is Air Conditioning Bad for the Environment?

In our last blog entry, we laid out the many benefits of air conditioning for the home, but there is one question that repeatedly rears its head in any discussion about air conditioning installations: what sort of impact does it have on the environment?

It is a fair question, and one that deserves consideration. As we enter 2019, green issues are at the forefront of a lot of political and social debate. From climate change and global warming to emissions and carbon footprints, the environmental impact of any industry is under scrutiny, and rightly so.

Our efficiency policy for air conditioning

Here at ADS Cooling we pride ourselves on the energy efficiency of our air conditioning units, and we are committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our own company, as well as that of our customers. After all, with much of our client base situated in Portsmouth and Bournemouth, the last thing we want to see is rising sea levels!

The global view

Taken globally, it is impossible to deny the impact of air conditioning on the environment. Recent studies show that the world’s largest air conditioning consumer- the United States- produces over 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year, and that air conditioning amounts to 15% of their overall energy consumption. In certain cities the waste heat from domestic and commercial air conditioning has been demonstrated to raise external temperatures during the night by up to an entire 1°C, which is not insignificant.

Air conditioning in the UK

Here at home, we ae glad to say it is a very different picture. Part of this is because there is less demand for air conditioning units than there is over the Pond, but another part of it is that we have taken steps to run these systems more efficiently.

New technology

Old air conditioning systems had a considerable impact on the environment, with the chemicals chosen for the refrigeration process being responsible for ozone-eroding emissions. Modern air conditioning units utilize variable refrigerant flow (VRF) or variant refrigerant volume (VRV) technology that limits the amount of energy consumption to what is necessary and appropriate to the building in which they are installed.

Running hot and cold

Another advantage of modern air-conditioning unit is their ability to blow hot air as well as cold. This means, in a properly regulated home or business, they remove the need for central heating to warm the building. This is a huge saving in energy emissions (not to mention costs), as the energy required to heat the water for a central heating system exceeds the same heat produced by an air conditioning unit by quite a way.

All in one

Nearly half of the country’s energy emissions are attributable to buildings and the cooling, heating, and ventilation of same. It’s a combination of obsolete systems, inefficient central heating, and excessive ventilation of waste heat. A modern air conditioning system does all of these jobs at once, performing a careful balancing act that improves energy efficiency and reduces a building’s overall toll on the environment.

For more information about the environmental impact of air conditioning, and to arrange for an energy-efficient air conditioning installation, give ADS Cooling a call today on 01489 790979 or 07899 855047. A member of our team will be happy to discuss the energy saving options with you, and recommend a solution that offers the greatest prospect of reducing your carbon footprint.