How to run AC units efficiently at home or office? PART 1

How to save electricity?
How to keep your current bill under YOUR control?
How do you set your thermostat to be comfortable yet spent less on electricity?
How to make your AC think like you?

These are common questions faced by all.
But a very few take the trouble of understanding it.

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In India atleast, it is not very uncommon to see a client buying the best TV at a higher price, but buying an AC that is cheaper! By watching that TV he does not spend much elctricity additionally: But he is going to spend more on elctricity by running the AC. Hence it makes a lot of sense to buy an efficient AC. Still he chooses to buy a cheaper unit! It is ironical. Is it not? I am not attempting to change one's buying preferences, which I can't. I can only tell how you can run any AC atleast effectively! '
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What temperature for Chennai?

Chennai or Madras has got a high ambient temperature. The seasons that we are blessed with are known commonly as HOT, HOTTER, & HOTTEST!

While no one can deny the fact that AIR CONDITIONING is almost a must for any organisation, what should be the inside design temperature for a hotter place like Chennai?

In most of the IT companies it is found that temperatures close to 72 deg F(22.2 deg C) are selected or recommended for the general workstation areas.

Do we really need that? In western countries, where there is more need to heat, there is meaning in limiting the temperatures to lower and acceptable limits. But do we need to copy that when our requirement is just the opposite of heating, or having to cool most of the times? Does it not make sense to keep the temperatures a litle higher but at an acceptable level?

On one side everyone talks of the need to conserve energy, but on the other side we compel equipements to consume more energy by pushing the set point to lower levels.

Who is responsible for this? The clients or the consultants?

On the other hand the requird importance is not fully given to fresh air needs(by the designer initially and/or by the client latter).

Systems are simply overdesigned, with less importance to fresh air.

May be two negatives make one positive!

AIR COOLED vs WATER COOLED

It is generally accepted that water cooled chillers consume less energy than air cooled units for the same capacity. But is that all, that need to be considered while selecting a system?

Air is (still) free, it is not charged! But water? Even if one is willing to pay for it, can the required quantity be continuously assured? That too in summer, when air conditioning is essentially required? Water of the same quality through out the year? Are clients willing to invest on water treatment plants? Can they be easily maintained or, will they ever be maintained at all? What happens if the parameters are not maintained? Does any one, really understand the effect of fouling factor etc in the long run, as a result of the above factors?

I WISH OUR COMMUNITY CONSIDERS ALL THESE WHILE RECOMMENDING AGAINST OR A FOR ANY SYSTEM!

Invitation

This site is intended to be used for the benefit of all AIR CONDITIONING professionals in and around Chennai.

Anything on the subject, that will be useful for those who are new to the profession are welcome.

To start with, I define air conditioning in simple language as,


" A process of altering the temperature, humidity and cleanliness of air for use at controlled velocities for HUMAN comfort or to aid industrial processess"