Where Air Conditioners LiveAccording to recent projections by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the world should expect a shocking rise in the number of air conditioners. The report estimates that we’ll see 700 million new air conditioners (or other similar cooling units) by 2030. By 2050, that number will jump to 1.6 billion.
That’s a lot of cooling.
The report predicts that the majority of new installations will take place in developing countries. The rise of air conditioning will closely track decreases in poverty. China saw mechanical cooling installation rates in urban areas zoom from about 5% to more than 100% in about 15 years. The data from China counts room air conditioners specifically, so the 100%+ rate includes homes that have more than one cooling unit.
The focus on adoption is now turning to places like India, Indonesia and Brazil. These countries all of which have substantial populations, comparatively limited adoption of cooling units now, and growing household income. Today, about 13% of homes in Mexico have some type of mechanical cooling system. By the end of the 21st century, the majority of homes there – upward of 80% – will employ a cooling system.
Conventional cooling technologies use a lot of electricity. In addition, some manufacturers still use environmentally harmful refrigerants. To meet the growing demand for residential and commercial cooling, consumers should look to newer technologies. Ductless heating and cooling could be part of the solution.
Ductless cooling is more efficient than conventional air conditioners
Of all the cooling technologies on the market today, ductless offers the highest efficiency available. The Lawrence Berkeley report identified ductless mini-split cooling as a viable option to meet demand. Modern units are highly efficient – some are 50% more efficient than conventional air conditioning systems.
From an operational cost perspective, that means lower overall cooling costs as global temperatures rise. From an environmental perspective, it means a less intensive demand for power, which in turn, means reduced carbon emissions. New units that use the latest refrigerants also pose a lower danger to the environment, while still providing desirable interior temperature reductions.
Efficiency shouldn’t be limited to new installations in developing countries, though. Right now, you can take advantage of lower operating costs year round by installing a highly efficient ductless heating and cooling system for your home. The systems are robust enough to serve as a primary heating and cooling system, but you can also use them to supplement an existing heating plant.
If you’d like more information about ductless heating and cooling, and how you can use it to save on operating costs while reducing your home’s carbon footprint, please contact us at New England Ductless at (617) 915-2803. We’ll be happy to consult with you on your home’s unique heating and cooling needs.