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These air conditioners work best in sunny, dry climates such as the Southwestern United States or Northern Africa.  Because they can also be run on battery power, solar powered AC can also be used in wetter, more cloudy climates but humidity tends to shorten the life of this appliance so areas with large amounts of precipitation are not ideal.
These air conditioners work best in sunny, dry climates such as the Southwestern United States or Northern Africa.  Because they can also be run on battery power, solar powered AC can also be used in wetter, more cloudy climates but humidity tends to shorten the life of this appliance so areas with large amounts of precipitation are not ideal.
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==Resources==
==Resources==

Revision as of 20:32, 9 January 2012


Solar Powered Air Conditioner

Solar powered air conditioning is probably the most logical thing on earth. Homes use air conditioning when it is hot out, and solar power works best when the sun is shining bright. Because air conditioners put the largest load on the power grid, we can save a lot of money and energy by switching to solar powered air conditioners. These air conditioners can also be used when it is not a bright sunny day, because they come equipped with batteries that last 12-24 hours and are charged by the sunlight.

How do they work?

Solar powered air conditioners are powered by solar panels placed on or around the building being cooled (obviously). The solar panels heat up water and turn it to gas form. The product, water vapor, is then used to take the heat from the air and cool down the ventilation air flowing into the building. The air that is produced is very cool and dry, thus it more efficiently cools down the body.

Any harmful effects?

There are no harmful effects or waste products of a solar powered air conditioner. They use water as a refrigerant instead of some other harmful coolants. Also, because they are solar powered they are independent of the power grid and conserve energy by eliminating heat and friction produced by the wires of a conventional air conditioner.

How much does it cost?

Cost is the major problem with solar powered air conditioning. The price of a unit made by SolCool can range anywhere from $2,600 to $3,000. As you get into the larger units, the prices can climb to more than $30,000. But the money you save over time is well worth it. (this needs quantification)

What climate is best?

These air conditioners work best in sunny, dry climates such as the Southwestern United States or Northern Africa. Because they can also be run on battery power, solar powered AC can also be used in wetter, more cloudy climates but humidity tends to shorten the life of this appliance so areas with large amounts of precipitation are not ideal.

Resources

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