Three Ways to Economize Air Conditioning

by Zach Banks, freelance writer on behalf of Lighthouse Heating & Air Conditioning ( 6-Mar-2013 )

Having a reliable system of air conditioning in San Antonio is a high priority during the hot summer months. Whether it’s a commercial or residential system, having a cool and comfortable place to live and work can increase productivity at the office and encourage a calm and relaxed environment at home. Having the best system will not only maximize comfort, but will also promote energy efficiency in a building or home. This can provide a great sense of ease to the wallet. Some kinds of effective and efficient methods of cooling are with economizers, heat pumps, and air balancing.

Economical Economizer

Just like the name denotes an economizer can be very economical. It is used to cool a building by drawing in, conditioning, and circulating cool air from outside. Although this type of air conditioning can help to improve the air quality inside a building, save money, and significantly reduce energy waste and pollution, it is only appropriate in temperate climates. If the temperature outside can hit extremes in heat, cold, or humidity then this type of system is less effective.

Cooling with Heat Pumps

Normally “heat pump” and “air conditioning” aren’t thought of in the same category, but a heat pump can be a very useful system to cool a home. A heat pump is used in somewhat the same way as an economizer, by pulling hot air from the ground or air. It can use this same principle to extract cool air from these sources as well. As such it is best for dry, temperate areas that don’t experience drastic temperature changes just like the economizer. If installed in a home or building with these conditions this system is very efficient in reusing and conditioning existing cool outside temperatures to cool a home inside. It is also very cost effective in that since it can be used for both heating and cooling a separate system for heat is not needed.

Balancing the Air

If temperate and dry don’t coincide with a certain region, then simply keeping an existing system, but having it balanced will provide a more proficient air conditioning in San Antonio. This can create a more efficiently cooled building. Air balancing is to ensure that an air conditioning unit is working at its optimal level of performance with evenly distributed circulation. This can guarantee that the system is not only operating properly, but also is sufficiently cooling the building and keeping everyone inside comfortable. 

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