How energy efficient is air conditioning?

3 min read

In recent years, climate change has pushed air conditioning from a luxury item that few could afford to a necessity that’s becoming ever more accessible.

Businesses and property owners are now in a position where they must meet the demands of their clientele, but have growing concerns over their energy consumption and electricity bills.

This article answers the question ‘How to use air conditioning efficiently?’ and intends to guide anyone considering an air conditioning system towards more energy-efficient and economical options.

How much energy does air conditioning use?

One of the biggest factors for anyone considering air conditioning for their space is: How much energy does it use?

The answer to that question depends on the type of air conditioning system installed.

While smaller units may use between 1kW and 1.5kW (or less), larger units may demand around 3kW or more.

How much energy does air conditioning use is also impacted by the chosen setting.

Although most people see air conditioning as a machine that releases cool or warm air, they have various modes which allow users to customise and find their ideal setting.

However, each function uses different amounts of energy. For example, functions like fan or eco mode may require less energy than heat mode or cool mode.

What is the most energy-efficient type of air conditioning?

In the world of air conditioning, energy efficiency is largely dictated by EER (energy efficiency ratio) and SEER (seasonal energy efficiency ratio) ratings.

These ratings range between ‘A’ as the most energy efficient, and ‘G’ being the least.

An energy efficient air conditioning system is one with an ‘A’ rating, or as close to that rating as possible.

Another feature to look for in an energy efficient air conditioning system is the eco-friendly setting that each model has, as these also contribute to energy efficiency.

Which AC consumes the least electricity?

If you’re looking for an air conditioning solution that uses the least amount of energy, there’s one crucial rule of thumb to keep in mind; the size of the unit matters.

An air conditioning system that’s too small for a room will have to run longer to keep it cool, thus using more electricity.

Conversely, one that’s too big will be too powerful and use more energy than needed every time it’s used.

Therefore, a design that consumes less energy will be appropriately sized according to the space it’s located.

Another way to use air conditioning efficiently is regular maintenance.

Even the best rated AC units require cleaning and monitoring to keep the system running efficiently and help prevent breakdowns.

Without regular maintenance, the unit starts using more energy to function normally.

An energy efficient air conditioning system is one which undergoes periodic maintenance so that it can perform without using excessive energy.

Contact Setpoint22

As the demand grows for air conditioning systems, more and more energy-efficient options are becoming available to meet the budget and energy concerns of businesses.

Contact the experts at Setpoint22 to design the most energy-efficient air conditioning solution for your property.