The Energy Guide Exposed: How to Keep Yourself (and the Planet) Cool
by Sorin Grama, Co-founder and CEO of Transaera
Summer is Coming
You have decided to purchase a new air conditioner (AC). Maybe your old window air unit has finally kicked the bucket, or you just can’t bear to sweat out another summer season. Regardless, it is clear that a new AC is in your future. You care about the environment and your energy bill, so you head to a box store and purchase the best Energy Star-rated AC available. It costs slightly more but you consider it an investment with future benefits, for your pocketbook and the planet (did you know that the AC accounts for an estimated 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, more than the entire aviation industry?). You are satisfied, even smug, that you made a well-researched, sensible, and environmentally conscious selection. But did you really?
Current AC Efficiency Ratings: Optimistic or Misleading?
Optimism reigns when it comes to AC efficiency ratings and, by extension, cost savings. This is because today’s AC energy efficiency ratings are determined by measuring performance at a favorable test condition which is far from how the units operate in the real world. AC manufacturers are optimistic, but not realistic about the conditions in which their machines function. In short, your shiny, new Energy Star-rated AC may perform better than less efficient competitors, but will rarely achieve the yearly energy cost so proudly advertised by the yellow Energy Guide stickers.
Accurately Measuring Efficiency
In the United States, the Department of Energy (DOE) sets minimum energy efficiency standards for air conditioners. Because policymakers have effectively set a very low bar for the AC industry to meet, AC manufacturers do not have an incentive to create higher efficiency products, leaving consumers with few pricey options for better ACs. But things are starting to change. Organizations like RMI and startups like Transaera are advocating for modified efficiency ratings aligned with real-world temperature and humidity conditions. In particular, humidity needs to be accounted for in efficiency calculations. Current efficiency ratings do not reflect realistic performance in hot and humid climates and underestimate the cost of running an AC in hot sweltering areas of the country. If the AC in the above example would be rated at realistic temperature and humidity conditions, its yearly energy cost would go up by nearly 50%.
Why humidity matters
All air conditioners perform two simultaneous functions: cooling and dehumidifying. This is what makes the air more comfortable. In humid climates, a typical AC will use over half of its energy consumption for dehumidification. Air that is humid requires the cooling of two elements: air and water vapor. Cooling humid air is much harder and energy-intensive than cooling dry air. Yet, dehumidification is essential to comfort. Hot and humid air is uncomfortable in the summer; so is cold and wet air in the winter. Humidity is the hidden factor that makes us uncomfortable, and the reason ACs work much harder in humid climates. If AC ratings were to truly account for the humidity in the air, the ratings of today’s ACs would be much lower than advertised.
Takeaway
Our changing climate is rapidly making air conditioning a necessity, not a luxury. While today’s air conditioners meet basic cooling needs, their efficiency and ability to meet demand in areas of the US with high humidity are lacking. Policy interventions and innovations are both needed to change the way air conditioners perform in today’s climate. Innovators like Transaera are demonstrating that ultra-efficient and affordable ACs are possible. Policymakers should set energy efficiency standards that are more ambitious and realistic to incentivize the development and broader availability of ultra-efficient ACs that could save energy, money and the planet.
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The Bloomberg article A Billion New Air Conditioners Will Save Lives But Cook the Planet talked about a lot of issues and some alternatives. However, higher energy efficiency, a little bit less harmful refrigerant, lower taxes is not a solution. The real AC affordability and climate change breakthrough is water evaporative air conditioning without huge energy consuming compressor and eco harmful refrigerant. There is at the same time HVAC disruptive water evaporative tech with drastically less cost (capex, opex and maintenance), energy, and emission.
However, the main idea of the article - die (from heat) or buy (traditional AC).
I see DoE Energy Star tag with EER about 11 as blog illustration.
What is Transaera's air conditioner EER?
Do you believe EER could be 200? Believe you or not, we have ERR 200+ while testing our 3D-plastic printed dew-point water evaporative air conditioner prototype.