| ![](/web/20061104154715im_/http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/images2/spacer.gif) |
INTRODUCTION
In summer, high relative humidity, elevated air temperatures and bright
sunshine can sometimes combine to produce an uncomfortable indoor environment. An
air-conditioning system can provide comfort for occupants by lowering
the air temperature and the humidity level in the home.
Options that are open to the consumer include a room air conditioner, a central air conditioner or a heat pump. The best choice of system will
depend on your circumstances; therefore, it is worthwhile taking the time
to evaluate your needs.
Does the whole house need to be air-conditioned or would cooling in
one or two rooms be sufficient? Room air conditioners offer an effective, low-cost approach to providing comfort in a small space, up to three rooms, with minimum installation effort. Central air conditioners and heat pumps
are used to cool the entire space. Central air conditioners are cooling-only
products, whereas heat pumps provide winter heating as well. The cost
of a heat pump is greater than that of a central air conditioner, which
is greater han that of a room air conditioner. The choice between central
air conditioners and heat pumps is examined in Natural Resources Canada's booklet Heating and Cooling with a Heat Pump.
If you are currently renting your home or apartment or if you are planning
to move in the near future, a significant investment in either a central
air-conditioning system or a heat pump probably does not make sense. However, a room air conditioner can be moved with you and re-installed in another
residence.
If your home has a central air-duct system and an acceptable place to
mount the outdoor unit (see “Installation
considerations”), installation of a central air conditioner
or heat pump should be straightforward.
In bungalows with unfinished basements, the addition of a duct system
may be relatively simple and inexpensive, but in other cases, this option
is usually expensive and frequently impractical. In these cases, there
are two other options for central systems:
- Mini-split units that distribute cooling by using two or three indoor
sections connected to a single outdoor unit.
- Central air-conditioning systems that use small-diameter high-pressure
ducts, designed to facilitate retrofit installation through walls, floors
and attic spaces.
There are a number of things that you can do to reduce the need for mechanical
cooling in your home, hereby minimizing the capacity and cost of the equipment that you purchase and the amount of electricity that it will consume. Actions
you can take to reduce cooling requirements are as follows:
- Caulk and weatherstrip to seal air gaps, and ensure that the attic
and exterior walls are insulated to meet or exceed the minimum recommended
levels to minimize heat transfer to the interior.
- Use awnings, blinds or drapes to keep direct sunlight from entering
the living space. Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides
of the house and wide roof overhangs will reduce solar heat gain to the interior in summer, while having only a small effect on heating in
winter. Light-colored exterior finishes will also help reduce solar
heat gain year-round.
- Turn on the kitchen rangehood fan when cooking, if it exhausts outside, and
turn on the bathroom fan while bathing to minimize moisture buildup
in the space.
- Turn off lights and appliances that are not needed. Plan heat-and
moisture-generating activities (cooking, dish washing, drying clothes
and bathing) for cooler morning and evening hours. Consider using appliances
with time-delay controls. In addition to generating heat and humidity
at a less noticeable time (after midnight, for example), your air conditioner
will operate more efficiently in the cooler night hours.
- Select compact fluorescent lamps and energy-efficient appliances, since
they produce less waste heat than conventional products. The electricity
consumed by a less efficient refrigerator, for example, is converted to
heat, which is released into your kitchen.
There are several common heat sources in a house.
Becoming informed about all aspects of air conditioning your home is
the way to ensure that the correct choices are made for your particular
cooling needs. This booklet identifies the commonly available air-conditioning
equipment and discusses factors involved in selecting, installing, operating
and maintaining an air-conditioning system. It provides you with a sound
basis for making a smart purchasing decision.
Top
|