Tips

The Cool Way to Save Energy This Summer

Understanding how to calculate power, keeping an eye on humidity levels, and knowing when to turn appliances on and off are key to reducing your monthly electricity bill.

Administrator

20 July, 2024

Recalculate Air Conditioner Capacity and Room Size

The discrepancy between the capacity of an air conditioner and the room size is the primary reason for skyrocketing electricity bills. Whether it’s a case of “too much” or “too little,” it ultimately leads to wasteful energy consumption.

Air Conditioner Capacity Calculation Based on Room Size

Air Conditioner Capacity Calculation Based on Usage

It’s essential to verify the accuracy of the installed air conditioner’s capacity relative to the room size. This crucial step helps determine appropriate solutions, such as upgrading, replacing, or relocating the unit. While the initial investment may seem significant, it proves to be a cost-effective decision compared to the cumulative energy wastage over several months.

Tips to Ease the Burden on Your Air Conditioner

For every 1-degree Celsius increase in temperature settings, you save more than 3% in energy consumption.
By minimizing unnecessary heat-generating factors, you substantially reduce your energy costs. Here are some specific tips:

– Install your air conditioner in cooler areas of your home, such as the east or north side, where direct sunlight is minimal.

– Ensure the outdoor unit is not placed near heat sources, moisture, fumes, or corrosive chemicals. If multiple outdoor units are installed in a confined area, arrange them to prevent hot air from circulating from one unit to another.

– Maintain a stable room temperature and use curtains to block heat from entering through glass doors or windows. Additionally, turn off unnecessary lights when the air conditioner is in use.

– Combining an air conditioner with a fan can enhance the cooling effect without lowering the temperature. The fan circulates warm air upwards and pushes cool air downwards, creating a wind chill effect for a more comfortable environment.

Air conditioner and fan combination for optimal cooling

Smart Strategies for Turning Your Air Conditioner On and Off

Avoid setting extremely low temperatures and maintaining them for extended periods. The optimal temperature for energy efficiency and comfort in the Vietnamese climate is above 25 degrees Celsius, with a temperature difference of 3 to 5 degrees from the outdoors.
This range helps prevent heat shock when transitioning between indoor and outdoor environments.

Only turn off your air conditioner if you plan to be away for an hour or more. Frequent on-and-off cycles consume more energy due to the high power required for restarting the unit.

During evenings, as outdoor temperatures naturally decrease, there’s no need to maintain very low indoor temperatures. Set a timer to automatically turn off the air conditioner at an appropriate time. Additionally, our bodies don’t require extremely low temperatures during sleep.

After turning off the air conditioner with the remote control, remember to switch off the circuit breaker as well. Otherwise, the unit will continue to consume electricity, leading to unexpected costs.

Regularly cleaning the air conditioner’s filter can result in energy savings of up to 7%.

Distinguish Between “Cool” and “Dry” Modes

“Cool” mode is indicated by a snowflake icon and provides cool air, while “Dry” mode, represented by a water droplet, removes moisture from the air without significantly lowering the temperature.
“Dry” mode consumes less electricity because it only removes humidity, making the room feel less stuffy without extensive cooling.

Many people choose “Dry” mode believing it saves energy. However, the optimal mode depends on the humidity level. “Dry” mode is effective when humidity is high, typically above 60%. On hot and dry days, with humidity below 50%, “Cool” mode is the better choice.
Several smartphone apps can provide you with the humidity levels in your specific area.

Distinguish between “Cool” and “Dry” modes for efficient energy use

Tips for Efficient Use of Inverter Air Conditioners

Inverter air conditioners are marketed as energy-efficient solutions. However, this advantage is most noticeable when the unit operates continuously for extended periods, typically around 8 hours a day, resulting in substantial energy savings. Conversely, using an inverter air conditioner intermittently for short periods may lead to higher energy consumption than a non-inverter model.

When purchasing an air conditioner, consider the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Modern air conditioners display their EER, and models with higher EER ratings consume less energy.

Mai Anh

Frequently asked questions

There are many ways to save energy during the summer months. Here are some tips: use a smart thermostat to automatically adjust temperature settings when you’re away or asleep, replace old light bulbs with energy-efficient LEDs, seal gaps and cracks in your home to prevent air leakage, and consider investing in energy-efficient appliances like a solar water heater or a smart power strip to reduce vampire power.

A smart thermostat can help you save energy by automatically adjusting the temperature settings based on your schedule and preferences. For example, you can set it to turn up the AC when you’re away or go into a sleep mode at night, reducing energy consumption and lowering your utility bills.

LED light bulbs use significantly less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, lasting up to 25 times longer and saving you money on your energy bills. They also produce less heat, so they can help keep your home cooler during the summer months.

Sealing gaps and cracks in your home, such as around doors and windows, can prevent air leakage and improve your home’s energy efficiency. This helps keep the cool air inside during the summer, reducing the need for constant air conditioning and saving you money.

Energy-efficient appliances are designed to use less energy while providing the same or better performance than standard appliances. For example, a solar water heater uses the sun’s energy to heat water, while a smart power strip automatically cuts power to electronics when they’re not in use, reducing vampire power and saving you money on your energy bills.