Seen in KL. Global warming thanks to local cooling?
Air conditioning uses hydrofluorocarbons, one of the greenhouse gases. Normally, these gases should not be released from the units, but often they do slowly escape because of bad maintenance, or it happens because the units are damaged or disposed of incorrectly. These gases contribute to global warming...
Also, air conditioning uses a lot of energy - I found that at least about 17% of household energy consumption in Malaysia comes from air conditioning, and some sources mention up to 40%. So what can we do about that, how can we consume less energy? Because it does get hot here, and cooling really makes sense...
I found these tips at the Daikin Malaysia site:
- Set the thermostat between 22 to 26 degrees Celsius for optimum running condition. Don't overcool the room (ours is at 27 at night!)
- Save on your energyusage by installing proper insulation: glass shading, curtain, blinds, awning and special roof insulation can help a lot.
- Do not bloack the air outlet of your outdoor unit. Keep good air circulation for efficient heat discharge and install your outdoor unit at the shady side.
- Get the right horsepower of air conditioner for your use. An oversized or undersized unit will run inefficiently
- Adjust the vertical and horizontal louvers for maximum air distribution.
- Maintain your air conditioner regularly.
And of course, think twice: do you really need the aircon?