The air conditioning (mobile or fixed) is the unstoppable way to lower the temperature of your home. Problem: it is also the most polluting and energy-intensive means. Here are some tips for better (and cheaper) air conditioning.
While July 3 was declared the hottest day in the world (a record immediately beaten the next day), cooling the interior of our homes is becoming a vital need. And the most effective way to achieve this is with air conditioning. However, as we know, an air conditioner is ecological nonsense.
All air conditioners work in the same way: they produce cool air inside by rejecting warm air outside. By using our air conditioners, we help warm the air in our cities. A study conducted by Météo France and the CNRS, published in January 2012 in International Journal of Climatologyconcluded that doubling the number of air conditioners in Paris would risk increasing the outside temperature by 2 degrees Celsius.
That being said, in the face of the heat waves that hit the big cities hard, it is sometimes impossible to cool the interior of our buildings other than with air conditioning – in particular to protect certain fragile populations. Here are some tips for making the best use of it, in order to limit your environmental impact and your energy consumption as much as possible.
Do not abuse the temperature
When you start your air conditioner, favor a maximum difference of 8°C with the outside temperature. When it is 35°C outside, we invite you to set your air conditioning to 27°C inside.
At night, it is best to opt for a difference of 5°C in order to sleep without catching cold. Note that some devices now offer a “sleep mode”, automatically adjusting the temperature during the night. The programming mode is also an option so that the device turns itself off a few hours after you have fallen asleep.
Another reflex to avoid: set the thermostat to the minimum temperature. By wanting to cool the room very quickly, you drastically increase your electricity consumption for a limited result. Turning down your air conditioner by one degree can allow you to reduce energy consumption by 20 to 25%.
Choose the right time
The advantage of an air conditioner is that as soon as it is started, it quickly lowers the temperature of the room. There’s no point in turning it on continuously when you’re away. Just turn it on when you move into a room.
To avoid over-consuming and heating up the outside air, you can turn on your air conditioner only when you feel the need for it the most.
Let the heat out
Obviously, when you start your air conditioner, remember to close your doors and windows to keep the coolness generated. As we explained in our article compiling some tips for surviving the heat, remember to close your shutters, curtains and blinds during the hottest hours of the day to prevent the heat from entering. Also remember to ventilate your home early in the morning and late in the evening to renew the air. You can thus use your air conditioner as a last resort for a few hours a day at most.
Limit heat sources
All of our electrical appliances produce heat. When your air conditioning is on, avoid using too much at once. Oven, washing machine or dishwasher, it is better to run them during the coolest hours of the day or limit their use in rooms where the air conditioning is on. Bonus: it will allow you to save energy.
Replace your old air conditioner
It’s no surprise: our old air conditioners are much less efficient and more energy-intensive than the newer ones. Let’s be clear, we are not inviting you to buy a new device every year, but to equip yourself with an efficient and energy-efficient air conditioner. For example, reversible air conditioning is preferable to a conventional air conditioner. Most air conditioners now work in heating mode, which allows them to be much more efficient and energy efficient. Faced with a traditional heating mode, you can gain in efficiency. If you want to opt for a mobile air conditioner, here is our selection.
Maintain your devices
To limit your electricity bills as much as possible and make the most of the capacities of your air conditioner, remember to maintain your device regularly. In the height of summer, it is recommended to clean the filters every two or three weeks. Without it, your filters quickly become clogged, the fresh air released circulates less well and your air conditioning uses more energy to operate.
Note: if you are equipped with a reversible heat pump, you must call on a maintenance company specializing in air conditioning.
Insulate your home
To limit the use of air conditioning as much as possible, the most effective and long-lasting solution is to insulate your home with construction materials designed for it. Of course, as a tenant, your room for maneuver is limited. Your landlord is in charge of the renovations. But, as a reminder, if you live in a dwelling classified F or G during an energy performance diagnosis (DPE), you have the right to request a thermal renovation by your landlord, since the Climate and Resilience Law of 2021 If he/she refuses, he/she cannot increase your rent. Good to know.
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