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Geothermal Air Conditioners
We’ve talked about split systems with the condenser outside the home, releasing heat into the air. But there’s no reason an air conditioner has to use air! Geothermal systems release that heat into the ground, taking advantage of the stable temperatures found four feet or more below the surface (50 to 55 F).
Because the coils are buried, geothermal systems are most often installed in new builds, although they can be retrofitted into existing homes.
Geothermal is a good choice if you are:
- Building a new home;
- Plan to stay in your home for at least five years;
- Environmentally conscious;
- Have the right property layout and soil type;
- Have pond or lake access (for water-based geothermal).
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Evaporative Cooling
Evaporative coolers, sometimes called “swamp coolers,” are often mentioned in the same conversation as air conditioners. However, they operate on a different principle. In evaporative cooling, evaporating water absorbs heat to cool the air in its vicinity, maintaining a comfortable temperature with minimal operational cost.
Swamp coolers are available as single-room coolers or whole-house systems. Regardless of size, the design is the same: A fan blows fresh air over tanks of water or water-saturated pads, then circulates into the home. To make room for that cooler air the home must be vented, often through partially open windows.
Evaporative cooling is a good choice if you:
- Live in a low-humidity area;
- Don’t mind refilling the water tanks/pads;
- Enjoy have fresh, outdoor air circulating through the home.
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Ice Air Conditioners
We’re going to end with a technology that’s a little more aspirational than practical.
Intended to work in conjunction with a standard air conditioner, ice air conditioning units effectively turn into freezers at night, transforming their in-unit water reservoir into a block of ice. During the day, a fan blows air over the ice, helping the traditional air conditioning unit maintain a low temperature while using less energy.
Ice air conditioners were designed for areas with variable electric rates, because the energy to freeze water is used at night, when rates are cheapest.
The primary manufacturer of ice air conditioners is Ice Energy. Or rather, was. Ice Energy filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 2019. Despite regular rumors and rumblings in the industry, as of this writing no one has stepped up to replace them.
If you’d like to know more about how ice air conditioning works, check out this overview from the Department of Energy. This article focuses on the “Ice Bear” model for commercial facilities, while the “Ice Cub” model was targeted toward homeowners. conditioner compressors and heat exchanger pumps sitting on concrete pads may settle and tip over time. Here are a few tips to fix a sinking air conditioner pad.
Supplementing your air conditioning with ice storage may appeal if you:
- Are environmentally conscious;
- Want to be on the cutting edge of air conditioning technology;
- Live in an area with variable electric rates;
- Are willing to do the research to find alternate installers/manufacturers.
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