To lighten the load on air conditioning there are many things you can do, how’s that you say?
Well, apart from the fact that your air conditioner will work more efficiently if you have an effective roof ventilation system that will move the ambient air throughout the roofspace and remove the thermal overload from the roofspace.
With a roof ventilation system your air conditioner won’t work as hard to cool the home and the overheated air of the roofspace that radiates into the living areas of the home. See BLOG on our site “Air Conditioning”
WELL TO ANSWER THE QUESTION, HOW DO YOU LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON AIR CONDITIONING
Well, beyond installing a necessary effective roof ventilation system, there are quite a few things that will make your home cooler and save on air conditioning running costs. For an existing home – number one before the temperature rises in the morning close all windows, draw all window dressings ie curtains, blinds etc. you can add exterior blinds, with most existing homes the windows more than likely are only 3mil thick, this will give you hardly any protection from UV rays so exterior blinds will be a great help. Shutters are also an advantage however blinds are much cheaper and give extra protection to surrounding brickwork. Make sure they go at least 100 mil past the brickwork to the sides and well below the windows over the brickwork, this will increase the shade coefficient to the windows. Canvas blinds are a good proposition lasting 15-20 years, however there are more expensive fabrics that are UV stabilized and reflective available these days. White or light colours will reflect the suns rays to a great extent.
As most of the heat that permeates and intrudes our home through the roof and the windows, we need to look at an effective roof ventilation system and window coverings.
MANY THINGS CAN BE DONE TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD ON AIR CONDITIONING IN NEW HOMES
(The following Blog can refer to an established home as well as a new home.)
For a start if you’re having colorbond or roof tiles on your roof it is a great start to pick a lighter colour for your roof, go an off white or any of the lighter colours, it is sort of obvious is it not.
People choosing black or similar get ready for your air conditioner working overtime.
Secondly, insist on your builder install an effective roof ventilation system, this will remove the heat overload from the roofspace.
Then you should look at the windows – there is double glazing, comfort plus or any type of proven energy saving windows, or if these prove to be too expensive there is also blinds that can be strategically placed to take advantage of the elements.
The following BLOG on this site will explain how to lighten the load on air conditioning in the long term – “Roof Ventilation The Enclosed Space and Surrounds”