How to be sustainable while buying an AC?

Given how extreme the weather has been in the last few years, an air conditioner has become a necessity. But they come at a cost that only affects your pockets, but inadvertently the environment as well. Having said that, there are a few things you can consciously do to be more sustainable while buying an AC. So let’s learn how your efforts can make you more sustainable and environmentally friendly.

How to be sustainable while buying an AC

There are a few things that you can keep in mind while you are in the market to buy an AC. These small things will have a compound effect and make you more sustainable as a result of them.

1. Type of AC: This is perhaps one of the crucial decisions while buying a new AC. An inverter AC is designed to save 30-50% of electricity when compared to a regular air conditioner. A convertible AC takes energy efficiency a whole level up.

2. Efficiency: Avoid buying an AC without a star rating. A 5-star rated AC is going to be the most energy efficient, as it saves energy as well as your electricity bill. The standard for rating changes each year, so make sure you check the label for which year it is rated. Try getting as latest as possible.

3. Appropriate size: This is often ignored as not many people factor it in when buying an AC. You should think about what size will give you effective cooling for the room. Anything bigger than that would just waste energy. For instance, if your room is less than 150 sq. ft. then you might want to stick to 1-ton AC. Anything above 150, you may consider getting 1.5-ton.

4. Refrigerant: It is the chemical compound present in your AC and its function is to absorb the heat and provide cool air once it runs through compressors and evaporators. There are different types of refrigerants and some are more environmentally friendly than others. For example, R-32 is the next-generation refrigerant designed to save the ozone layer and reduce global warming.

5. Two-stage compressor: The compressor is one of the units which takes the most energy. If you have a two-stage compressor then it will take less energy and compress less on a cool day and more on a hot day. Thus, it will save energy when it is not required.

How to be sustainable while using an AC

Your sustainable effort shouldn’t be limited to just being more conscious while buying. You can be a lot more sustainable in your approach while using an AC as well.

1. Temperature: This directly impacts how much energy your AC consumes. Each degree adds 8-10% to the overall energy consumption. Try to set it at a temperature that doesn’t feel too cool in comparison to the outside environment of the room.

2. Turning off: Trying to be judicious with the use and being conscious of turning it off when not in use is probably going to save the most energy.

3. Limiting the use: Not using AC all time can drastically make the overall energy consumption a lot less. Try using a fan or natural ventilation when you can. Using an AC shouldn’t be your first move to mitigate a hot day.

4. Room insulation: Try not to install your AC in a location where it is in line with direct sunlight. You should also create an enclosed environment so that the cool air can stay within the room for longer and your AC doesn’t have to work hard to maintain the temperature.

5. Fan + AC combo: This might sound gimmicky to many, but it is even said by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that the energy savings of the air conditioner plus fan could be as high as 12-20%.

6. Regular Service: Regular servicing will make sure that your AC is not wasting energy and is working perfectly fine. There are times when the air filter gets blocked due to dirt and other reasons and it can affect the cooling capacity and waste a lot of energy as well

These are just a few of the things that you can do on your part to be more sustainable in your approach while buying as well as using AC. There are plenty more things you can do on your part to be more sustainable. You can recycle your old AC responsibly as well as recognise when it is appropriate to replace your old AC in the first place.