When you think of futuristic technology, the first thing you imagine is probably not air conditioning. However, many exciting advances are coming to air conditioning technology. If you plan to buy an air conditioner in the next decade, it couldn’t hurt to familiarize yourself with the different types of technology from which you may choose.
If you click the URL here, you will see that air conditioners of the future offer several different exciting features.
Automation
The average person is away from home during specific hours of the day. People who work outside the home can set their air conditioner to go when they leave and turn on when they come back.
The air conditioning will turn out around 10 minutes before you arrive and turn off again You will not have to worry about saving energy because the air will turn off when you are gone. Most people like a cooler temperature for sleep than for their waking hours. Your AC will adjust when you are ready for bed.
If the hours you are at home vary, you can always use your cell phone to turn your air conditioner on before arrival.
Evaporation Cooling
When hot air makes contact with water, it evaporates into colder air. Swamp coolers and window air conditioners use this type of technology to cool a room
Evaporator systems use less energy than traditional compression systems. Unfortunately, they add humidity to the spaces they cool. This is not the best idea for a home in Texas.
There is a new evaporator system called Cold Snap that works with a dehumidifier. An invention of chemists at Harvard University, Cold Snap stops air from becoming humid by the use of ceramic material that has a hydrophobic coating. Ceramic is very water absorbent, and the coating is water repellant. Hence, the evaporating water separates from the cold air eliminating the humidity.
Absorption Refrigeration
Solar absorption is often employed to cool commercial buildings. Solar systems once required large solar panels that would not fit in most people’s homes.
New systems use solar-evacuated tubes that obtain heat from the sun. The energy is collected by a solar absorption chiller that uses a heat transfer fluid made of water and ammonia.
Zoning Features
The average home has different temperatures in different areas. The kitchen is almost always hotter than the bedroom, and the bedroom is hotter than the sitting porch. When you turn on your air conditioner, it leaves some rooms too cold and some too hot.
The air conditioners of the future will offer zoning. This means that you can set different temperatures in different rooms. In most cases, this will lower your air conditioning bills. Some AC systems allow you to add zoning panels, so you may not need an entirely new system.
Geothermal AC
Everyone is concerned with the environment nowadays. Geothermal air conditioners will help you lessen your energy usage. The system exchanges heat with the ground instead of using refrigerant. Homes are cooled with a system of heat pumps and underground piping.
UV Bulbs for HVAC
When the Coronavirus pandemic happened, people became more concerned with hygiene. Researchers are experimenting with LED UV bulbs in heating and air conditioning systems. The bulbs may be able to work with the ventilation system to eliminate viruses and clean the air in your home.
Ice Powered Air Conditioning
Just because you need air conditioning in your home does not mean you need to use it constantly. There is environmentally sound technology in development that can help reduce your air conditioner usage.
There is a new ice-powered air conditioning system coming out soon called the Ice Bear.
Water is frozen in a tank. One day after being frozen, it can help to cool a home or office building. It can cool a building for up to six hours. Your regular AC system will start cooling again when the Ice bear stops.
Smart Air Conditioning
You should have air conditioning maintenance performed once a year to have it work properly. If you live in a place that is warm all year, such as Houston, you may even want to get it done twice a year.
Remembering when to do maintenance can be challenging. There are certain problems you may not be able to catch during a routine inspection.
There is a new smart technology designed to tell you when your air conditioner needs maintenance. It works with sensors that can also pinpoint problems that your AC has. Your air conditioner will be able to exchange information with other devices in your home that it works with, such as the thermostat and electrical appliances.
Ductless AC Systems
Ductless air conditioning systems are nothing new. Ductless systems have an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. They are attached by electrical wiring and refrigerant tubing. The unit in your home attaches to a wall and blows hot or cold air in the home without the need for ductwork.
Ductless systems are traditionally used in small spaces such as dorm rooms and studio apartments. You will see them popping up in larger homes in the future.
Consumers today are looking for convenience above anything else. These systems are inexpensive and easy to clean. There is very little that can go wrong with them, and they are energy efficient.
Air conditioning makes your life more comfortable. Advances in technology will make AC easier and cheaper to enjoy.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.