Solar Air Conditioner

Convert to Solar Air Conditioning

With temperatures rising as summer approaches in the Northern Hemisphere, its time to think about cooling down.  A solar air conditioner, also known as solar evaporative cooler can save you from the heat – and the high electric bills associated with running a conventional A/C.

A startling fact to consider: One-sixth of all electricity use in the United States is for air conditioning!  Can you even imagine all the CO2 emissions as a result?  Not to mention millions of dollars that do not have to be wasted in this way when solar energy is clean and abundant – especially during the sunny, hot summer months.

There are a number of ways to go about using the sun to actually lower the temp in your home, apartment, or even a tent.

As shown in this first video, a homeowner hooked up an air conditioning unit to a photovoltaic solar panel.  As the panel absorbed solar energy, a converter switched the direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC), required to power the device.  Bingo!  Free solar energy!

This is a perfect DIY solar project.  Instructions are available at www.livingonsolar.com.

After you view the first video, consider the next one about a solar absorption cooler.

Solar absorption coolers do not release CFCs into the atmosphere.  The cooling unit is 100% self-contained, unlike the solar A/C units shown above.

Granted, the cost may be too high for homeowners (at this time), but I suspect that one day soon, we’ll see this technology on our own streets.  I would love to visit the Audubon Environmental Center in L.A. to feel – and see – this solar absorption cooler in action.

Would you use one of these solar air conditioners?  Chances are, you could save $75 a month in cooling costs over the summer!

Tags: DIY solar, solar air conditioner, solar cooling, solar evaporative cooler, solar swamp cooler