Summer Energy Saving Devices
AC temperature at 16, fan at full speed, curtains drawn, blankets on, and Netflix & chill â sounds like a perfect day of the summer season, right?
March marks the arrival of the summer season â and skyrocketing electricity bills. No matter how hard you try, you cannot help but fall upon cooling appliances as your saviour.
However, with the world getting hotter by the day, itâs high time we become cognizant of the amount of energy we use. We are listing down some simple energy-saving hacks you can resort to in your day-to-day life that will not just beat the heat but will also bring down your DEWA bills by a few 100 to 1000s of Dirhams every month.
1. HVAC strategies for the win
Due to the harsh climatic conditions of the UAE, AC loads account for over 75% of the energy consumption in buildings. This combined with the rising cost of fossil fuels is causing massive environmental concerns. Hence, decreasing the energy consumption of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning is the need of the hour. But how do you do it? HVAC up-gradation and control optimization increase the energy efficiency of the systems. Retrofitting HVAC with smart automation equipment such as smart thermostats that are automated and control the heating or air-conditioning. Retrofits include replacing the plug fan, chiller fan, electrostatic filter, expansion valve, or adding adiabatic cooling accessories that can generate up to 40% savings in the long run.
2. Keep your cooling system running efficiently.
The best way to maximize energy affordability is to regularly maintain your cooling systems. Also, avoid placing lamps or TV sets near your room-conditioning thermostat. In doing so, the thermostat will detect heat and will cause the air conditioner to run for longer than usual, causing higher energy consumption.
3. Regulate your Thermostat
Air conditioning consumes a huge amount of electricity during summers, so if you want to save energy without compromising on the comfort of your AC, follow these simple tips:
– Keep your thermostat set at 24 degrees or higher. With every degree, you can save up to 5% energy. So, the higher the temperature, the greater the savings.
– Replace your AC if the current one is 10 years or older. Choose a 4 or 5-star AC that can help you save 25% of cooling consumption.
– Donât just rely on the AC for cooling. Use fans to circulate air. This will help the rooms become cooler quickly, saving up on a lot of electricity.
4. Adiabatic Coolers
Just like the temperature, electricity bills are also on a constant high. So, a lot of people refrain from using these appliances all the time. A lot of companies are exploring Adiabatic cooling as a means of energy conservation and savings for homes and offices.
Adiabatic cooling is an eons-old method of cooling spaces using the absorption of heat by water as it changes phase from a liquid to a vapor. Ancient Egyptians took advantage of this method by hanging wet clothes in the openings of their living quarters and letting the dry desert air pass through to provide a cooling effect.
Similarly, an Adiabatic cooling mesh reduces the temperature of the air entering the condenser coil of the chiller, facilitating improvement of equipment reliability and efficiency. This system improves the performance of all air-cooled equipment operating in adverse conditions such as those we experience in Dubai and it provides this cooling effect without using an additional energy source.
The Ecomesh Adiabatic Cooling concept is based on the natural thermodynamic properties of water that occur without loss or gain of heat. Water is sprayed intermittently onto large non-metallic mesh panels installed in front of the heat rejection coils of chillers, remote condensers, rooftops installations. The evaporating water creates the cooling effect, lowering the air temperature to up to 10 degrees from the ambient temperature before it reaches the condenser coil.
Ecomesh has a very flexible design that can be custom-made to fit chillers of any size. Overall, it is a very sustainable solution bringing substantial energy and water savings when compared to other mechanical cooling options available in the market.
Terrafic Energy conducts an energy study and compares your baseline costs (in the absence of any energy savings solution) vs savings accrued upon EcoMesh installation. If you want to save up on electricity bills without compromising on your cooling needs, adiabatic coolers are your best bet. Visit www.terrafic.org to get an adiabatic cooler installed to save on your energy bills without compromising your lifestyle.
