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For an average household, the air conditioner is probably the most significant contributor to the power bills in the summer season. ACs are wonderful appliances that bring instant comfort, and once we get used to them, there’s no going back.
The inverter AC is a recent advancement in air conditioning technology that allows for a significant gain in efficiency. This is a technology that has been recently implemented in the air conditioner segment. MCL Aircon, An AC Service company bringin you this details nformation on Inverter ACs.
It is usual for residents of tropical countries to use the AC upwards of 12 hours a day. Given the massive power consumption of the aircon, the efficiency of the unit is of paramount importance.
Air conditioners are a global driver of the peak power consumption pattern. AC manufacturers across the world spend a lot of money to facilitate an increase in efficiency. Governments across the globe revise aircon efficiency norms periodically, and manufacturers must comply with these regulations.
The AC would see a much broader adoption if, somehow, the cost of running is reduced because most people do not have a problem with the initial cost of the air conditioner. It is the high utility bill that pinches the pocket. This is where the inverter air conditioner comes in.
The “inverter” is an advanced electrical component that comes inbuilt with the new generation of air conditioners. This inverter helps drastically reduce the power consumption of the AC by allowing it to run at different capacity levels. This device is similar to a ceiling fan’s speed regulator.
Understand more on the differences between inverter and non-inverter here
The question that follows is – how does running an air conditioner at different capacity reduce power consumption?
Consider the case of a ceiling fan
The ceiling fan is ubiquitous in almost all tropical countries. The fan speed can be adjusted using the regulator. Once the desired speed is set, the surroundings are comfortable. What if your fan’s regulator broke down and the fan can remain either ON or OFF?
Either you would have to bear the discomfort of one of these two states, or you could turn it OFF or ON as required, which is a discomfort.
The non-inverter air conditioner can operate only in two states – either ON or OFF, whereas the inverter AC has a regulator that can alter the speed of the compressor and other components to keep the room at a consistent temperature.
Speed Variability
If some appliance is ON, it consumes its rated (full) power. That’s how the traditional AC works. When the compressor is running, the AC is effectively cooling the room at its designed cooling capacity. Once the set temperature is reached, the AC compressor cuts off, only to switch on again once the room gets heated.
The inverter is a component that controls the speed of the compressor. It can slow down the compressor to about 25% of its rated capacity or speed it up by 25% in case of a rapid cooling requirement. Using the inverter, the AC’s compressor can work continuously as per the set temperature without turning ON and OFF frequently. That’s how it saves power and delivers consistent cooling for a more comfortable environment.
How does continuous running help save power?
1. The air conditioner needs a huge amount of current to start up the compressor. A traditional AC does that hundreds of times in a day. This increases energy consumption.
2. A non-inverter AC works at its rated capacity. It may overcool the surroundings causing discomfort and increased power consumption.
It is common for people to increase the set temperature by one or two degrees once the aircon has been running for about half an hour.
3. When the compressor in a traditional AC turns off, the gas (refrigerant) in the system loses pressure, and the compressor is no longer at its operating temperature (the compressor cools down). Once the compressor stars again, it heats up, consuming energy. The gas needs to be pressurized and circulated once again. That’s where the traditional AC falls behind the inverter AC.
4. A continuously running set of parts moving at a constant speed are more efficient than a set that has parts with fluctuating speed.
The car is one of the good examples of this. Your vehicle returns better mileage (higher efficiency) when it is cruising on a highway as compared to a road where you must brake and accelerate repeatedly.
How much can I save using an inverter AC?
The energy savings depend on the model of the AC and the manufacturer. More efficient ACs are generally high priced. AC power consumption also depends on the ambient temperature, humidity, temperature setting, age, number of people present in the room, among many other factors.
Considering every aspect, on average, you can consider energy savings of up to 30% when compared to a traditional aircon.
Given that a well-maintained aircon easily lasts 8-10 years, you would save a massive amount of money and, at the same time, save a lot of electricity. Regularly maintained and serviced by a reputed aircon service company will enhance these benefits.
Is the price premium of an inverter AC justified?
The price premium is more than justified. We’ll help you with a general calculation.
A 1-ton, 2-star rated air conditioner typically consumes 800 units of electricity annually, whereas an inverter AC (which is usually four or 5-star rated) consumes about 550 units of electricity.
Your annual electricity savings: 250 units
Considering that you use the air conditioner for eight years, you would save 250 * 8 = 2000 units of electricity. It is our understanding that in most countries, 2000 units of electricity would cost more than the price difference between an inverter and a non-inverter AC.
If you still think that 2000 units would come close but not provide real value, also consider the following facts:
- Peak pricing – electricity consumed during peak hours is billed at a higher rate in many countries
- The annual increase in the cost of electricity – Consider the rise in power tariff over eight years and you would understand that the difference is enormous.
The price premium of buying an expensive inverter-AC is more than justified – not just in a financial sense but also from a green perspective. Less electricity consumption means that the world would burn less fuel and coal.
We hope you liked this article. Explore our blog; there are many exciting and engaging articles for you related to aircon servicing. MCL Aircon, a singpaore based aircon servicing company who specializes in servicing, epairing and installing inverter air conditioners in HDB or Condos in Singapore. Book General Aircon Servicing with us now or call / Whatsapp us @ +65 9450 9801 for arranging aircon servicing for your home.
