Paphos Life

Everyone who installed already a photo-voltaic system in order to have
electricity from the own roof (net-metering) produce usually enough kWh to
run air conditioning as well with no extra costs. But there are many houses
without the space for 10-12 or more panels to install such a system.
As Air conditioning is the largest consumer of electricity an alternative to the
above would be nice. For example an air con system which runs 90% with
the power of the Sun from 3-4 PV panels in daytime. With the built-in inverter technology
the system produces cold or hot air (Winter setting) the same way like modern air cons do,
but with nearly zero electricity consumption. Available in several sizes from 12000 BTU
to 24000 BTU. If one switch it on as soon as the Sun is shining and let it run all day it will
cool down (or heat up) the wider area the indoor unit is installed. Walls, floors, furniture etc
store the energy for a while after sundown. As system is connected to the grid as well one can
switch it back on at night if necessary. It will be not cheap (ca 2700 Euro) as there is more
installation work involved and panels, mounting materials etc. There is no extra inverter necessary,
and no batteries either (still problematic with e-cars).
I think this would be another product for our sunny Cyprus as the Sun shines the most when
one needs cooling...

Max

Max- rather than refrigerating the air inside a poorly-insulated adobe brick / flat roof / concrete shell abode in the hot season, have you considered Economy Mode, where the A/C units simply dehumidify their enclosed room space, without dropping the actual room temerature too much? Far cheaper on leccy useage!

For the human body abed at night, it's not so much the ambient temperature, but the high humidity that makes us uncomfortable and restless, would you not agree? (Not to mention the need for a decent mosquito zapper, LOL!)

To properly Air-Condition a typical modern Cypriot house, you are at the same time trying to condition the temperature of the whole atmosphere above you, due to poor insulation! No wonder leccy bills are so high in sunny Cyprus during the long hot season...

Cheers- AL

No problem to run the Solar aircon on dehumidify mode all day long and leave door
open to the other rooms. Perhaps it would save 100% of electricity. But as I explained,
to reduce the room temperature all day long it would help to save running hours in the night.
If you do so the humidity will already be very low and you are not wasting the energy you can
produce from your 4 panels. (1000 Wp).

I have doubts that it is healthier than air con as you have a permanent draft on you
and you will not recognize until you have a stiff neck. Also air from modern air cons
have several filter in order to have clean air. It is nice to hear from you that you don't
suffer from high humidity in July/Aug, must be a good area at Ha Potami.
And not to forget that ceiling fans circulate the hot air from the highest, hottest
point of the ceiling down, which is nice in Winter.... ha ha

Max

Flip side of a highly insulated home, haven't felt a justifiable need for AC over 2 summers, perhaps 3 or 4 nights. Prefer to save our net metering credit for winter!

Ian