The inverter air conditioner is one of the most sustainable air conditioning units available because inverter technology is eco-friendly technology and reduces running costs by around 30%. It is the ability to vary the unit’s speed that lowers the electricity consumption. According to air conditioning experts airandwater.com.au, the inverter models always stay on and vary the running speed once the selected temperature is maintained. This means they not only use less power but are much quieter too.
By comparison, a non-inverter air con runs at the same start-up speed constantly, switching on and off constantly to maintain the temperature. It is the constant starting up that gobbles up power and creates noise. If you use an older model air con, it may not be an inverter type.
Another way the inverter air cons are eco-friendly is the type of refrigerant used. This is R410a refrigerant, containing HFC, as against the R22 refrigerant, which contains HCFC, a chlorine component known to destroy the ozone layer. However, some installers will still use R22 due to its lower cost, so it’s a good idea to check before your air conditioner is installed and ask for the R410a refrigerant.
The disadvantage of choosing an air-con with inverter technology is in the initial cost. Still, since they do save so much when running and are so quiet during their operation, it is certainly worthwhile paying the extra price. Remember, the lesser cost is due to decreased consumption, which increases sustainability.
While the inverter technology may seem like the ultimate in sustainability, there is now something even better to be found that reduces the cost of running an air conditioner even further. The inverter air con was hailed as the best and latest technology, but now it has been superseded by an air conditioner that saves on power consumption even more. How?
It uses solar power and inverter technology to reduce its electricity consumption. With this combination, the reduction in running costs is amazing. We are used to having solar-assisted hot water, but solar-assisted air conditioning is relatively new on the scene. These air conditioning units have their own solar panels to save power.
With the addition of solar power, they are said to cut running costs by 97% during daylight, costing as little to run as a single light bulb, a savings that is certainly worth a great deal for sustainability. These are the latest cutting-edge technology air conditioners that have just recently been released in Australia. They are not hybrids of the inverter types even though they use inverter technology – and they are also reverse cycle air conditioners.