In most homes, air conditioners are already a must-have device. In the summer, the air conditioner delivers cool air to all parts of the house to bring down the indoor temperature. In winter, the air conditioner will heat up the air to make the room comfortable. However, air conditioners are high-powered appliances that consume a lot of electricity. You may know that air conditioners consume more electricity, but you may not know the specific energy consumption of air conditioners. In this article, we will introduce you to the specific energy consumption of air conditioners and issues related to reducing the power consumption of air conditioners.

1. How much electricity does an air conditioner consume in a day?

Air conditioners are mainly composed of circulation system, chiller, air compressor, condenser, evaporator and other components, air conditioning is the main component is the compressor, and air conditioning power consumption is mainly related to the operation of the compressor. Whether it is cooling or heating, air conditioners require a compressor to operate. The compressor works by compressing the air, together with other components, to achieve the cooling or heating effect.

On average, an air conditioner consumes about 3000Wh per hour, but the actual power consumption of your home will depend on how often you use your air conditioner, how long you use it, the power of the air conditioner, and a host of other factors. Therefore, the estimation result will be quite different. In fact, you can calculate the power consumption of the air conditioner, we will provide you with a way to calculate, but before calculating, you also need to know the following data.

The power of the air conditioner: Generally speaking, the power of the air conditioner will be labeled on the product packaging or the instruction manual of the air conditioner. If you are out of these, you can also seek the help of a professional who can determine the power of the air conditioner by its brand as well as model number. But we have also provided you with some of the power of air conditioners below.

Air conditioner usage hours: If your air conditioner has the function of displaying the time, then you can determine how long the air conditioner has been in use directly by checking the time on the panel. If you have a smart home system installed in your home, you can monitor and record the usage time of your air conditioner in real time.

Once you have understood the two figures above, you can calculate the power consumption of your air conditioner by using the formula below.

Air conditioner’s power consumption = air conditioner’s power * air conditioner’s usage time

If the power of your air conditioner is 2000W, and you need the air conditioner to run for 5h per day, then the power consumption of the air conditioner in a day will be 2000W*5h=10000W, which is 10kwh.

However, this calculation is not accurate enough, it can vary depending on the actual power of the air conditioner. However, you can also get a certain amount of data about the power consumption of the air conditioner based on this data.

2. How many solar panels does an air conditioner need?

Once you know the power consumption of your air conditioner, to calculate how many solar panels your air conditioner needs, you also need to know the local peak sunshine hours and the power of the solar panels.

Local peak sunlight hours: In different areas, the peak sunlight hours will be different. This will affect the number of solar panels. You can check the peak sunshine duration of different regions directly on the internet.

Power of solar panels: For home solar panels, 300W and 550W are more common. You can choose the right solar panel according to your actual needs.

Once you know the above data, you can calculate the number of solar panels. You also need to use the following formula.

Number of solar panels = Power consumption of room air conditioner / Peak sunshine hours / Power of solar panels

We still use the above data to calculate, your air conditioner’s power consumption is 10kwh, if the peak sunshine hours in your area is 4h, you choose the power of the solar panels for 550W, then you need 10kwh/4h/550W ≈ 5 blocks. In this case, when your air conditioner is running, you will need 5 pieces of 550W solar panels to support the operation of the air conditioner.

3. How much can I save by using solar system to power my air conditioner?

The amount of money you can save by using a solar system to power your air conditioner is not only related to the power consumption of your air conditioner, but also closely related to the price of electricity in your area. The higher the price of electricity in your area, the more money you can save. For a powerful appliance like an air conditioner, using a solar power system will save you a lot of money on your electricity bill.

If the price of electricity in your area is $0.1/kWh, and we still use the figures above, then you can save $1 a day on your air conditioning bill, and you can save $30 a month, or $360 a year.

4. Tips to reduce air-conditioning power consumption

It is better to set the cooling temperature of the air conditioner at around 28 degrees Celsius: when the air conditioner reaches the set temperature, the compressor of the air conditioner will sense the signal through the thermostat in the air conditioner and stop working. If you set the temperature too low, it will prolong the working hours of the air-conditioner compressor, and the power consumption will increase accordingly.

Setting the air conditioner to automatic mode: When the room temperature reaches the present temperature, the air conditioner compressor will stop working, but the cabinet fan of the air conditioner will still rotate. If you set the air conditioner fan speed to automatic mode, the air conditioner will automatically adjust the rotation of the fan according to the indoor temperature, which can effectively reduce the power consumption of the air conditioner.

Sleep mode at night: When resting at night, the sleep function of the air conditioner will automatically adjust the temperature in order to achieve the most suitable temperature for human body to sleep, and it will also automatically save the consumption of electricity.

Avoid switching the air conditioner on and off frequently: Switching the air conditioner on and off frequently consumes the most electricity because the compressor needs a large starting current to start the air conditioner. If you switch the air conditioner on and off frequently, the air conditioner will consume more electricity than it does during operation.

5. What are the alternatives to air conditioning?

For a powerful appliance like air conditioner, even with some power saving techniques, air conditioners still consume a lot of power. In this case, we would like to introduce you to some relevant alternatives to air conditioners that can replace air conditioners to regulate the temperature for you.

Misting Fan: Misting fan is an air conditioning alternative that provides tax cooling by atomizing a mist of water to make the air more humid and cooler. However, it is not recommended for use in humid environments.

Air Conditioning Fan: An air conditioning fan is a product that combines the functions of a fan and a chiller. It promotes the flow and circulation of air through the fan first, and in the process, the chiller will lower the air temperature to achieve the cooling effect.

Heater: A heater is a relatively common heating device, usually made of copper or aluminium tubing, which provides warmth to the room by circulating hot air.

Electric Heater: Electric heaters generate heat through resistance wires, which are then radiated through the device’s cooling surface to achieve the heating effect. Compared to air conditioners, electric heaters are more energy efficient and use less electricity.

Conclusion:

Although we cannot calculate the power consumption of a de-air conditioner very accurately, with our calculations above, you can get a better idea of the expected power consumption of an air conditioner in order to reduce the cost of running it. In addition to this, we have also provided you with some power saving tips with air conditioner alternatives.