How solar air conditioning works

Written by: EAA

Businesses can save thousands of dollars annually by taking advantage of the energy that the sun provides. The most common uses for solar energy are to passively and actively heat water tanks and warm buildings. However, a little-known technique that is rising in popularity is using solar air conditioning to cool buildings.

Solar air conditioning (or solar cooling) can be achieved in multiple ways, all of which require an up-front investment but provide long-term financial benefits to a business. As long as you can stress solar cooling benefits with your colleagues, it may make sense for your business.

Solar cooling: how it works

Passively constructed structures generally maintain a constant internal temperature. Natural solar heating can be employed to ensure that the ambient temperature stays in a specific range.

Passive cooling employs the same concept using the power of the sun to move unwanted heat out of a building to create a cooler environment. Solar fans may be used to drive out hot air which draws in cooler air without the costs of energy. Photovoltaic cells power these fans via batteries that are charged from the conversion of light energy to chemical energy. Photovoltaic cells are particularly expensive, but the price per square foot drops as research and development improves the energy efficiency of these roof-mounted devices.

The downside to using photovoltaic cells is that the batteries die out and require replacement about once every 10 years. Active solar cooling via a solar air conditioner uses heat energy directly to drive chemical refrigerants. Active cooling can actually be used to produce very cold temperatures without the use of any additional energy.

Solar cooling and solar air conditioning can be especially beneficial in areas where intense summers create an unwelcoming working environment. In addition, businesses that employ alternate energy are also eligible for government tax credits. While your business is cooled without the use of much energy, it is also doing so by bypassing the use of any fossil fuel. There is no need to consume costly energy when the sun provides a tremendous amount on a daily basis. In the long run, you’ll save quite a bit of money using solar ventilation.

Use BuyerZone’s free request for price quotes service to get matched to multiple professionals who can discuss your solar air conditioning options.