Energy: ENEA Tips To Use Air Conditioning Efficiently

With the start of the summer season, ENEA provides energy efficient ways to cool your house with air conditioning tips to improve comfort, reduce your energy bill and protect the environment.

 “Air conditioning systems are among the appliances that most increase electricity expenditures, so it’s essential to measure their efficiency, checking filters and replacing them when dirty. In fact, in addition to bacteria, mold and pollen, dust accumulates obstructing the air flow, impacting the performance of the sytems and resulting in higher power bills", said Nicolandrea Calabrese, head of the ENEA Laboratory for Energy Efficiency in Buildings and Urban Development. “Lack of proper maintenance – he said – puts great stress on air conditioning systems, causing  a 30% increased power consumption compared to factory parameters. Neglecting maintenance also ensures a steady decline in their performance, requiring frequent service interventions.

Here are the tips to protect the environment and save up to 7% on the electricity bill:

Properly maintain your air conditioner

Like any other household appliance, the air conditioner also requires routinely cleaning and maintenance. In addition, it is important to check the gas circuit for leaks.

Please note that the legislation provides for the obligation of the system booklet and routinely checks for systems with a power greater than 10 kW for winter ones and 12 kW for summer ones.

Dirty air filters and fans harbour molds and bacteria harmful to health, including the legionella bacterium which can be deadly.

Pay attention to the energy class

Choosing the right air conditioner is a key requirement for reducing consumption and avoiding nasty surprises on your bill. Regardless of the technology, models in energy class higher than A are always preferable, since, in addition to a reduction in CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere, they consume much less. The annual energy consumption indicated on the energy label is related to 1,400 operating hours in heating mode and 350 in cooling mode, plus the energy consumption in other modes like standby. For example, a class A+++ model will consume up to 40% less electricity than a class B model.

Choose an inverter air conditioner

In an air conditioner with an inverter control system, the rotational speed of the compressor is constant and this allows for optimal performance in any conditions,. These models, designed to keep the air conditioning on for many hours in a row, cost more than those equipped with on-off technology but energy consumption and noise are lower and they offer a  greater comfort.

Watch out for incentives

The 2023 budget law reconfirmed the incentive for this year: for purchases made by 31 December 2023, the "air conditioning bonus" allows you to benefit from a tax deduction of 50%^[1] or 65%^[2] depending on the intervention and type of system:

Placement of the Unit

Place the air conditioner in the upper part of the wall: cold air tends to sink and will mix more easily with hot air which instead tends to rise. Avoid installing the unit behind a piece of furniture: the barrier stops fresh air from circulating.

Close the shutters during the hottest hours

It is common practice to leave the shutters open even when you are not at home, allowing the heat to enter through the window frames. Turning on the air conditioner at your return, requires a great amount of energy to cool the rooms. Closing the shutters, or shielding the windows during the central hours of summer days can reduce the solar heat gains and consequently the energy required by the air conditioners.

Do not cool your space too much and control humidity

The legislation provides that during the summer season indoor temperatures must not drop below 24-26 degrees Celsius but, more often than not, two or three degrees less than the outdoor temperature are already sufficient. Often, to avoid the feeling of oppressive heat, activating the dehumidification mode may suffice, as humidity makes the temperature feel warmer.

You need an AC unit for every room

Many people believe that mounting an AC in their hallway will cool down the entire house  but the only result will be to catch a chill every time you pass the hallway, as it will be the only room to be cooled.

Don't leave doors and windows open

The air conditioner transfers heat and humidity outside. If “new” hot air enters the room the system will work extra hard to maintain a specific temperature and humidity level, consuming extra energy.

Insulates the refrigerant pipes outside your house

To avoid dispersions, the refrigerant pipes present outside the house need to be insulated. Cover the external part of the air conditioner from the sun and bad weather.

Use the timer and the 'night' mode

They allow you to reduce the start time interval to a minimum and raise comfort. In addition, it’s possible to turn the air conditioner on and off remotely and keep it running only for the period of time when really needed. The "night" or "sleep" mode adjusts the room temperature to changes in body temperature.

Give your home a check up

Let a technician conduct an energy diagnosis of the building. It’s the first step to assess the thermal insulation of walls and windows and the efficiency of the air conditioning system. The diagnosis will indicate the interventions to be carried out evaluating their cost-benefit ratio. In addition to reducing the costs for summer air conditioning of rooms up to 40%, the interventions are even more affordable applying the tax deductions for the energy renovation of buildings.