Every time you switch on your AC system, you add to your portion of 100 million tons of CO2 emitted by AC systems every year. Further, air conditioning accounts for 6% of residential energy consumption, most of which comes from non-renewable sources. Such statistics indicate that air conditioning systems contribute to global warming on two fronts.
What if there was something you could do to enjoy your comfort through air conditioning without escalating the global warming crisis? The use of photovoltaic panel powered AC is one of the smart tricks that individuals can use to reduce their carbon footprint. It tackles global warming caused by air conditioning from a direct carbon emission perspective and by reducing direct energy consumption.
How Air Conditioning Contributes to Global Warming
To understand how solar air conditioning systems can slow down global warming, you must appreciate the contribution AC systems make towards the problem. It is worth noting that the replacement of solar energy does not eliminate the contribution of AC systems to global warming. Rather, it minimizes the harmful effects of global warming arising from traditional AC systems.
So, how does air conditioning aggravate global warming?
- Direct Addition of CO2 into the Environment
Air conditioning systems are made of electronic and moving parts. By the nature of their operation, they emit CO2 gases that add to the toxicity levels in the atmosphere, increasing global warming problems. It is estimated that by 2050, 25% of global warming will be as a result of air conditioning. It means that more gases will be sent to the atmosphere making the situation worse.
The situation is worse in cities. As more people work indoors, they have to rely on heating and cooling systems to create the perfect environment. Cities form heat traps that exacerbate the global warming problem. The gases released by air conditioning systems are worse at trapping heat than gases released by other appliances.
- Use of Environmentally Harmful Energy Sources
Traditional air conditioning systems use electricity and generators to power their operations. Power generated through fossil fuel or inefficient methods like hydro electricity means that air conditioning will contribute more harmful gases. The use of solar air conditioning against global warming is an attempt to change the source of power into an eco-friendly one. At least, one of the fronts through which air conditioning contributes to global warming will have been sealed.
- Inefficient AC Systems Are Also Responsible
It is not just inefficient air conditioning systems that will make the planet warmer. The manufacture of AC appliances and their quantity in a system are also considered part of the harm. It may explain the frantic search for leaner and more efficient, and sometimes natural, air conditioning systems.
Back to efficiency, an AC system is expected to deliver according to calibration using the lease amount of energy. Any leakage along the duct or malfunction by the thermostat will result in unnecessary excessive energy consumption. With excessive energy consumption and inefficient air conditioning, more toxic gases are released to the atmosphere. When the system is well serviced and efficient, they consume less energy, release smaller quantities of harmful gases, and contribute only a small portion to global warming.
Solar Air Conditioning and Reduction in Global Warming
Having identified ways in which air conditioning is contributing to global warming, it is time to look at how solar AC systems are helping to reverse the damage. The use of solar for air conditioning is addressing the challenge from the energy and resource utilization perspective.
The biggest win for solar air conditioner Philippines is the utilization of solar power as opposed to conventional electricity. Solar power is considered clean energy because it is tapped from the natural environment. It does not come with a bill at the end of the month. This allows you to keep the warming and cooling appliances running throughout without the fear of a high bill.
Solar panels also form part of the roof and are designed to deflect excess light back into the atmosphere. It is not absorbed by buildings and rooftops. As a result, surfaces on the earth are cooler. It will require less energy to keep homes with solar panels on the roof cooler. Because of this deflection, the chances of heat trapping are reduced significantly.
The storage factor in solar air conditioning is a massive game changer in the industry. Previously, solar energy was used directly from the panels. Today, advanced technology allows solar batteries to store energy that is used during off-peak hours. It will minimize the time you use conventional electricity in air conditioning.
The Verdict
Solar air conditioning systems and appliances are removing the shame associated with air conditioning whenever a person talks about global warming. Increased innovation and reduced cost are the fueling factors that will reduce the contribution of AC to global warming. It is time for the world to enjoy comfortable indoor living without the guilt of global warming.
