Maximum Efficiency
Even after you’ve selected your AC, there are simpler ways to get more out of it:
Stick to 24°C
The compressor in an AC has to work harder to achieve a lower temperature, say of 18°C. It therefore needs to consume more power to reach that level of cooling. Comparatively, it would need a lot less electricity to achieve a comfortable 24°C. (Very often, a ‘pleasant’ temperature setting is all that we need instead of a ‘cold’ one.) So be sure to use your AC judiciously.
Look for a vigilant display panel
There are ACs with advanced features that display the consumption figures of electricity while the AC is on. These serve as good reminders to switch off the AC when you see the figures escalating.
Want to up the game? Try an inverter AC
An AC with inverter technology has a variable speed compressor that enables it to adjust its power output to precisely maintain room temperature. It also cools the room faster as it has a high power start-up.
Ensure you are choosing the right tonnage
A tonne basically refers to the heat capacity of a tonne of melting ice over a period of one day. Essentially, this means that a 1.5 tonne AC can remove enough heat to melt 1.5 tonne of ice in a day. Therefore, the bigger the room, the bigger the tonnage of AC that you will require. Fortunately, the websites of most AC manufacturers these days help you calculate the required tonnage for your room and is typically based on the room’s length, breadth and height, the number of occupants and the size of the glass windows, among other variables.
So when you step out to buy that perfectly suited AC to cool down the heat-baked days, choose wisely. After all, being forewarned is being forearmed.
With inputs from Sachin Trivedi, founder, Bicon Consulting, empanelled as an accredited energy audit company with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency; Santosh Salian, product group head, air conditioners, Godrej and the staff of Croma store, Juhu, Mumbai.