 | A green home can be built to never need a central air conditioning system. If you must get one, however, purchase an Energy Star-rated unit, with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 12 or higher. Also, look for units with a fan-only option and a replaceable filter. For your green home, consider the following options to central air conditioning — you'll save money and energy. |
- Air conditioners for individual window units. Air conditioners that fit into individual window units cost less than central air to operate, and they cool only the areas you need. Be sure to properly size the unit for the room; people tend to buy the biggest air conditioner they can find, wasting money and energy. Place the unit in a window away from direct sunlight, or plant a tree outside to shade that window.
- Ductless units. A more attractive and less noisy option than window units, ductless air conditioners use a simple outdoor condenser unit to run power and refrigerant to small, wall-mounted fans. Instead of filling a window, the ductless unit can go anywhere on the wall. Because the refrigeration takes place outside, ductless units are much quieter than a central or window unit system. Expect to pay double the cost of a simple window unit for a ductless unit.
- Ice energy. Ice energy is an innovative and cost-effective system for cooling a building. A large box in your yard produces a block of ice at night, when the temperature is cool and electricity costs are lower. During the day, a fan blows air over the ice, creating air conditioning. By time-shifting most of the energy use to night, an ice energy system can save you hundreds off your utility bills. Commercial units have been around for some time, and smaller residential units are now available.
- Ceiling fans. When it's warm, most people really just need some air movement to feel comfortable. Air conditioners blow cold air, taking a long time to cool the entire home. A ceiling fan offers the same level of comfort, but costs must less to operate. It circulates the air, generating a feeling of comfort and carrying cooling breezes through the home. Save the air conditioner for the really hot days, and use the ceiling fan instead.
| - Whole-house fans. A whole-house fan is installed in the ceiling of the top floor of your home. When it's switched on, the fan sucks air into the attic, drawing in cool air from the outside. In order to work effectively, open the windows of the rooms you want to cool, and close the doors of unused rooms. Highly effective and much less expensive than central air conditioning, a whole house fan can keep you cool through the summer.
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- Solar attic fans. If your home has an attic space, install a solar-powered attic fan. These inexpensive fans turn on automatically when it gets too hot, siphoning the hot air out of the attic. Use of an attic fan will lower the temperature of the attic, reducing the strain on your air conditioner and saving you money.
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