Replacing Sensors on Your HVAC System

How to Reduce Energy Consumption While Keeping Cool

14 April 2017 by Olivia Morris

Air conditioning is an essential part of everyday life in many parts of Australia these days, and it often seems impossible to think of how to get by without it. Given the country's climate, most offices, shopping malls and other public places rely on air conditioning systems to keep them cool. However, one of the fundamental downsides of running an air conditioning system is that it consumes energy. This has an impact on the carbon footprint of the organisation that is running the system and also creates a larger utility bill with each passing each year. However, there are steps that you can take to run air conditioning more efficiently, which will help you to reduce both your carbon consumption and your energy costs.

• Electronic Controls

Larger air conditioning systems, like those found in big office blocks, tend to operate on a few sensors around the building which inform the central controller of how cool to make the air. However, it is possible to retrofit electronic control devices to such systems without having to upgrade the entire apparatus. Controllers like these have been shown to produce energy savings by as much as a fifth when fitted to an existing system.

• Reverse Cycle Systems

Reverse cycle air conditioning makes use of power conversion circuits which regulate the voltage, current and frequency of the air conditioning units fitted in a system. A conversion circuit controls the system's compressor, which ultimately means that the air conditioner's output is altered. Essentially, the greater the frequency of the power conversion, the more output is seen. Conversely, lowering the frequency produces a diminished output.

On its own, this does not necessarily save energy, but a reverse cycle system provides a much greater degree of temperature control than conventional air conditioning. As a result, the right temperature can be reached without wasting energy dropping it too far only for the air temperature to rise once more until the cooling cycle begins again. In short, such systems produce a more even temperature and less energy consumption, as a result.

• Upgraded Air Con Units

In many cases, the simplest way of remaining cool whilst reducing energy consumption is to upgrade your existing system entirely. Modern air conditioning units are much more energy efficient these days than those that were produced even a few years ago, so switching older models out for newer ones is often the best way of lowering your carbon consumption overnight. To learn more, contact a company like Kintore Airconditioning.

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