How to save money and improve air conditioning efficiency: this is the issue on which families and businesses are racking their brains in this hot season. To answer the many questions, Enea has called a "live social network" on Wednesday 28 June, from 11 am, on the @ENEA UfficioStampa Facebook page: Agency experts will provide information, answers and clarifications on the "intelligent" use of air conditioning for defend against the record heat that is affecting Italy, and especially the central-south, in recent weeks.
The live social network has been renamed #AIR-CONDITIONINGCLASSEA, in line with the national information and training campaign on Energy Efficiency "Italy in Class A" promoted by the Ministry of Economic Development and implemented by Enea. The goal of the campaign is to promote a culture of efficient and eco-sustainable use of energy resources through "information and the dissemination of news on energy efficiency, with particular reference to the tools and incentives available, to technological innovation and the efficient use of energy, in the public and private sectors, in residential buildings, in the tertiary sector, in industry, transport and public administration”.
Enea has provided a mini-guide for the occasion 10 indications which aim at the best use of air conditioners, trying to safeguard comfort and expense at the same time. In fact, more aware and attentive behaviors allow you to save 5 to 7% on the total electricity bill.
Let's go into the details of the mini-guide, analyzing it point by point:
1) Keep an eye on the energy class: when choosing air conditioners, models in energy class A or higher are preferable
2) Prefer Inverters: the devices equipped with inverter technology (which allows the power of the machine to be varied from a minimum to a maximum, eliminating the continuous starts and stops of the motor) adjust the power to the effective need and reduce the on and off cycles.
3) Take advantage of the incentives: in case you want to buy a heat pump by replacing the old heating system, it is possible to take advantage of the Ecobonus, the deduction of 65% active until 31 December 2017, or the "Conto Termico".
4) Attention to the location: the air conditioners must be placed in the upper part of the wall: the cold air tends to descend and thus mixes more easily with the hot air, which tends to rise. Never place air conditioners behind sofas or curtains: the barrier effect blocks the diffusion of fresh air.
5) Be careful not to cool the environment too much: 2-3 degrees less than the outside temperature is enough. Often it is sufficient to activate only the "dehumidification" function, since the humidity causes the perception of a much higher temperature than the real one.
6) Each room needs its own air conditioner: it is necessary to refresh every room in the house, not just the corridor or the living room.
7) Do not leave doors or windows open
8) Insulate the refrigerant circuit pipes outside the house: it is advisable that the external part of the air conditioner is not completely exposed to the sun and bad weather, because they risk being damaged.
9) Using the timer and the "night" function: in this way the switch-on time of the appliance is reduced to a minimum.
10) Pay attention to cleaning and correct maintenance: the filters and fans must be cleaned at the first seasonal start-up and at least every two weeks, as these are places where mold and bacteria harmful to health usually lurk. It is also important to check the tightness of the gas circuit.
