Not only can air conditioners cause air pollution, but they also contribute to global warming, which is already a serious concern for our planet. It may seem impossible to give up using air conditioners, but there are a few ways we can try to minimize the risk.
Here are three ways air conditioners cause air pollution and how to avoid it.
- Older air conditioners use Freon, which is a chlorofluorocarbon gas. When this gas leaks into the atmosphere, it damages the ozone layer, protecting us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays.
- Air conditioners also release pollutants like carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These pollutants contribute to global warming and can also cause respiratory problems in people.
- Many air conditioners use hydrofluorocarbons, which are also greenhouse gases. These gases can stay in the atmosphere for years, trapping heat and contributing to climate change.
What can you do?
There are a few things we can do to reduce the risk of air pollution from air conditioners:
- Ensure your air conditioner is properly maintained and doesn’t have any leaks.
- Choose an energy-efficient model that doesn’t use as much electricity.
- Use fans instead of air conditioners when possible.
- Open windows and doors to let fresh air in when the weather is cooler.
- By following these tips, we can help reduce the amount of air pollution caused by air conditioners and do our part to protect the environment.
Toxic Refrigerants
The refrigerant chemicals have changed over time from CFC to HCFC to the current HFC. Those compounds have the potential to create greenhouse gas effects as they can trap up to thousands of times more heat than carbon dioxide.
The production of HFCs is expected to rise as the world moves away from HCFCs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
As the world looks for ways to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels and lessen its impact on the environment, the use of HFCs has come under scrutiny.
Some environmentalists have called for a complete phase-out of HFCs. In contrast, others have suggested that HFCs are limited to specific applications with no other alternatives.
The debate over the use of HFCs is likely to continue in the coming years as countries worldwide look for ways to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
Although scientists keep discovering new chemicals that carry less greenhouse risk, the risk is still present.
Refrigerants work in a closed-loop. Therefore, the chemical compound should not be a problem if the AC unit works properly. However, refrigerants may leak, especially if you are not taking good enough care of your AC unit.
If your refrigerant starts to leak, you may notice that your AC unit is not cooling as well as it used to. Your energy bills may also increase, as your AC unit has to work harder to cool your home.
Suppose you think you may have a refrigerant leak. In that case, it is important to call a professional AC maintenance specialist to take a look. Refrigerant is a dangerous chemical and should not be handled by amateurs.
Improper AC disposal may also cause the refrigerant to leak and pollute the atmosphere without anyone even realizing it.
What we can do about it:
- Buy an AC unit that uses one of the safest types of refrigerant, such as R-134A, R-407C, R-404A, or R-410A
- Take care of your AC properly to prevent refrigerant leakage.
- If you no longer use the unit, dispose of it accordingly. You can hire a professional HVAC technician to take care of that.
Thermal Pollution
Air conditioners take the excess heat out of your indoor air to cool down your house. The problem is that excess heat is then released outside.
Hence, the outdoor temperature will get warmer.
The more air conditioners there are in the neighborhood, the warmer the local environment will be. This in turn, only makes people more dependent on air conditioners to make them feel comfortable. It’s a cycle.
But there’s more to it than that.
The heavy use of air conditioners can also lead to what’s known as the urban heat island effect. This is when an area with many buildings and concrete becomes significantly hotter than the surrounding rural areas.
The air conditioners running in those buildings help contribute to the heat.
So, our reliance on air conditioners makes us more susceptible to higher temperatures; it also helps contribute to those higher temperatures.
What we can do about it:
- Optimize the natural ventilation of your house to minimize the need for artificial temperature control
- Plant more trees on your lawn to cool down the local environment
- Use a fan to help cool down the indoor air so your AC doesn’t cause much thermal pollution.
Fossil Fuel Emission
AC units need electricity to run. The problem is that a lot of electrical power comes from coal-burning. Carbon emissions from coal-burning lead to greenhouse gas emissions. This long-lasting issue has been causing our planet to get warmer over time.
However, if your house relies on clean energy, you might not need to worry much about carbon emissions. Nevertheless, it is advisable to check your energy source’s carbon emissions and environmental effects.
What we can do about it:
- Choose a more sustainable source of energy for your house.
- Buy an AC unit that is energy-efficient
- Replace your AC unit if it is already old because older AC units are not energy-efficient
- Maintain your AC unit regularly to make sure it runs at optimum efficiency
It turns out that the consequences of using an air conditioner are more significant than just a higher bill at the end of the month. Hence, starting now, you should consider buying and using energy-efficient appliances.
As people become more aware of the consequences of climate change, they are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the environment. One way to do this is to use energy-efficient appliances, such as air conditioners.
Air conditioners are one of the most common household appliances, and their use has increased significantly in recent years.
ECM Air Conditioning, with its headquarters located in Boynton Beach, FL, provides air conditioning services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you’re looking to have a new HVAC system installed, we’re on-call and ready to assist you. So if you’re in need of an HVAC installation, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule an inspection! Our HVAC installation experts will check your ductwork, measure, check wire sizes, and more before making recommendations to ensure maximum efficiency and comfort. Call us at 561-295-1763 or contact our HVAC installation team online by clicking here.