Do you have to keep the air conditioning running all the time?

For several years now, the rate of equipment with air conditioners in houses, apartments and business buildings has been increasing sharply . For ecological and economic reasons, however , you should not leave your air conditioning running permanently, whether it is mobile or not. Especially since the air conditioning can be noisy and generate noise pollution for you and your neighbours. But then, how to achieve correct thermal comfort at home while reducing energy consumption and protecting the environment and your ears  ? We give you tips for use and alternatives to air conditioningin this article.

How to adjust the air conditioner to reduce your electricity consumption?

To enjoy good thermal comfort in your home without abusing the air conditioning by running it all day or all night , there are certain tips to apply.

Adjust your air conditioning without a programmer

In the absence of a programmer, it is very likely that your air conditioning has a regulation system allowing you to impose a comfortable temperature inside your home. This temperature must be defined according to the ADEME recommendations cited above.

Tips for choosing an air conditioner

As explained above, a sober and reasoned use of your air conditioning is essential nowadays , because it allows you to limit energy consumption and reduce its impact on the environment. But this is not the only factor that comes into play to lower the electricity bill . There are other tips, especially for choosing your air conditioner.

Anticipate the purchase of your equipment

Avoid buying your air conditioning in a rush. Indeed, during periods of heat wave, many people invest in a mobile air conditioner which can be noisy and inefficient and yet consume up to 2.5 times more than a fixed air conditioner . If the region where you live registers very high temperatures every year (DOM-TOM, South of France, etc.) and you wish to install an air conditioning system, turn to an air conditioning professional who can install an effective fixed system for you . less energy-intensive ( split air conditioner with an indoor and an outdoor unit connected by a duct carrying the refrigerant , monobloc air conditioning without an outdoor unit or even a reversible air-air heat pump ) . Get advice from a cooling specialist to choose an air conditioner that is well sized for the size of your home and ideally located to air condition it as a whole.

Maintain your air conditioning

Another aspect not to be neglected: the maintenance of your air conditioner by an approved professional , in particular for the handling of refrigerants . This optimizes its consumption and makes it last longer. Apart from these checks carried out by a specialist , also be sure to clean the filters regularly , change them if necessary and dust the fan to prevent the air conditioning from being clogged and to save energy . Refer to the instructions for your equipment  to know the maintenance instructions specific to each model ( monoblock air conditioning , monosplit , multisplit , reversible heat pump, etc.) .

How to limit the use of air conditioning?

When the temperatures are stifling, it’s tempting to turn on the air conditioning despite its harmful impact on the planet , the wallet and acoustic comfort . To keep it cooler, you can also think of alternatives to cool your home  while limiting the use of air conditioning .

Ventilation and ventilation to bring in fresh air

When the temperature is still bearable (26°C or less), you can simply play on the ventilation in your home to lower the perceived temperature. Open your windows at times when the outside temperature drops, such as in the evening, at night or early in the morning, and when creating drafts, if possible. On the other hand, in the middle of the day, remember to close your windows as well as your shutters and exterior blinds to block out the sun. This will prevent hot air from entering and will limit solar gains , and therefore heat, in your home. If you do not have exterior blinds on your bay windows, install or have installed, depending on your type of accommodation, exterior blinds, pergolas, sunshades, caps, shutters or shutters.

Installation of ceiling fans

To fight against the heat felt, you can install ceiling fans if you have sufficient ceiling height (2.50 m recommended) and no bunk bed type furniture is located too close to the fan blades. For personal safety reasons, the presence of fans under the ceiling requires a minimum height under the blades: generally 2.30 m between the finished floor and the fan blades in the absence of a protective device and 2.20 m if the fan is equipped with a safety device.

These ceiling fans are very energy efficient while being very effective in lowering the temperature felt by the occupant thanks to the mixing of moving air. This device differs from air conditioning which cools the air when the fans only stir it.

Insulation and vegetation to keep cooler

Finally, good thermal comfort at home also depends largely on thermal insulation . For better insulating performance, it is better to insulate the walls from the outside , because this slows down solar gain inside the dwelling and therefore improves thermal comfort.