Emma Young
Sydney Morning Herald - August 1, 2008

Lee Kuan Yew hailed it as one of man's greatest inventions, Boris Yeltsin claimed it gave him a cold and used it as an excuse to get out of work. Public Enemy sang about it, at least metaphorically, Jimmy Carter donned a cardigan and had words with the nation about turning it down and Bill Clinton increased its energy-efficiency standards months before leaving office.

The common theme here is air-conditioning. Air-conditioning is not an inalienable right, but in a culture of constant comfort with an everyday disregard for the "energy crisis" if it is going to interfere with a personal crisis, it is sometimes treated as such. Climate control is not, after all, what the English political philosopher John Locke was pointing a finger at when he made a philosophical fuss about our natural rights.

In New York a bill was rejected in June targeting this specific air-related extravagance. The Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, copped a fair amount of heat from disgruntled locals for his resistance to the proposal of a bill that shops such as Gap be fined $US200 ($212) for each door or window they leave open as a marketing technique. The commercial idea behind the "door open" policy is that people find it more inviting. The environmental idea behind the fines is that open doors increase the need for air-conditioning to balance out the disrupting heat or cold that billows in with people and their economy-bolstering credit cards. There is also the requisite burning of fossil fuels and emission of greenhouse gases that goes with it.

In Sydney this winter any manipulation of the temperature is clearly of a warming variety, but the philosophy remains the same. Many retailers, small and large, keep their doors open to welcome consumers and bracing winds alike, necessitating blasts of hot air to accommodate one and beat back the other. The same thing happens in supermarkets where arctic conditions reign in aisles dominated by open, door-free fridges: a blatantly wasteful design possibly motivated by the idea that a glass barrier might prove to be an insurmountable impediment to the purchase of packaged ham. As long as what is bad for the environment is good for sales it all works out.

Back in 1979 in New York, when a summer heatwave threatened to collapse the power grid against the backdrop of a global energy crisis and an unemployed shah, shops including the big-name department stores weren't allowed to cool their stores below a certain temperature. This was just before the decadent '80s hit its stride and you might think it would be impossible for 2008 to surpass the excess associated with that era but apparently not when it comes to air-conditioning. Regardless of any energy crisis, people seem to expect the best, much like John West always told them to. Convenience and energy profligacy is a daily mantra that we won't easily be separated from.

These new expectations are attested to by a recent phenomenon in "energy tourism" accounting for what is estimated to be a 50 per cent surge in petrol sales in Mexico. The jump comes in the guise of Texans who don their theme park-related T-shirts and cross the border to take advantage of the nationally subsidised oil prices offered by the Mexican Government.

The subsidy is supposed to make fuel affordable to poor Mexicans, but has attracted some hangers-on.

Border crossing in the name of petrol is a rather extreme expression of the popular and political insistence on sticking to what is cheap, convenient or "our right", rather than submitting to measures designed to curb wasteful energy practices in a way that is reasonable, practically achievable and flat-out right.

Of course it doesn't help anyone learning to break bad habits when members of the Bush Administration spent some of their two terms recommending air-conditioning to combat those pesky effects of climate change. And they weren't joking. In 2002 it was a tack derided in an open letter signed by 11 state's attorneys-general.

They compared it to a former interior secretary's inane suggestion that the hole in the ozone layer meant that all Americans needed to do was "make better use of sunglasses, suntan lotion and broad-brimmed hats". He wasn't joking either.

Perhaps then it's not surprising that the Vice-President, Dick Cheney, once described energy conservation as "a sign of personal virtue", not a political priority.

Practical measures to make buildings and cities more energy efficient need to be taken up by more individuals, small businesses and corporations.

"Low-E" windows that reflect and reduce radiant heat, and building materials that have high thermal mass to help buildings maintain a more constant temperature are possible solutions, but if they are not options we can start small.

Energy profligacy need not be a way of life and common sense dictates we open our minds to the possibility of shutting our doors.

Emma Young is a freelance writer.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/07/31/1217097424368.html 

From the 1st of October 2001, three phase ducted and non ducted air conditioners of the vapour compression type with a cooling capacity of up to 65kW manufactured in or imported into Australia and New Zealand, had to comply with the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (MEPS) requirements. These requirements are set out in Australian and New Zealand Standard 3823.2-2001. Since then MEPS levels have progressively increased and from the 1st of October 2007, increased MEPS levels will come into force.

Today, developed countries like Australia are turning to MEPS to increase the number of energy efficient units in the marketplace.

All major Manufacturers including Carrier, Toshiba and Daikin Air Conditioning are committed to providing air conditioning solutions that are energy efficient, quiet, simple to use and reliable, ensuring units not only meet MEPS requirements but in most cases exceed the minimum requirements.

For more information visit:

http://www.energyrating.gov.au

Carrier Corporation, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is providing internet-accessible thermostats to a pilot program for Connecticut Light and Power Company customers this summer. The program ? which begins later this month among 50 selected households in CL&P's Farmington Valley and Stamford service areas and runs through October 1 ? will allow CL&P customers to help reduce power demands during peak emergencies, while also helping them lower their monthly electric bills.

"Carrier thermostats were selected for this cutting-edge program because they have a proven track record for helping homeowners reduce energy costs through easy-to-use programming," said Jon W. Ayers, president, Carrier Corporation.

"Connecticut Light & Power's program also represents an important step in connecting homeowners with their homes through the Internet, while serving as a critical link for energy management between energy suppliers and their customers. By reducing demand during peak hours, utilities can realize substantial savings and homeowners can enjoy lower electricity bills. Reduced power consumption leads to a more reliable power supply and mitigates the need for increased production capacity, which reduces investment, preserves natural resources and lowers harmful air emissions."

Carrier and Silicon Energy, the leader in e-business energy enterprise solutions, have teamed up this summer to offer utilities the ComfortChoice program. The ComfortChoice program is an Internet-based, residential demand-side management solution that enables utilities to recognize peak demand savings without compromising homeowners' comfort and control. The program helps utilities reduce demand, save energy and the environment, and enhance customer value.

CL&P's test includes the installation of a new, high technology Carrier Energy Management Interface (EMi) an Internet-communicating 7-day programmable thermostat, in homes with central air conditioners or heat pumps. Using Web-based software developed by Silicon Energy, CL&P will communicate with the thermostats remotely over the Internet to increase the current temperature setting during peak demand periods.

The air conditioner may still run during this period, but it should operate less frequently because of the higher indoor temperature setting. The homeowner will have the ability to override the temperature setting via the Internet or thermostat if the home becomes too warm.

Using a Web browser interface, the CL&P operator accesses Silicon Energy's energy curtailment program to initiate a thermostat setback, specifying how many degrees and for what duration. At any time, the homeowner can choose to override the setpoint change directly through the EMi, and a message will be transmitted via the Internet back to the utility.

The customer also can remotely access the EMI from a Web browser to obtain status, adjust setpoints and perform overrides. Carrier's EMi uses emWare's device networking software to remotely monitor and control the thermostat. EmWare's software enables the communication and data transmission to and from the homeowner's EMi, the internet and CL&P. AT&T Global Network Services provide the network connectivity.

"This imaginative use of cutting-edge technology may yield another method to reduce demand when there is a power crisis," said Michael W. Townsley, CL&P's manager of Market Planning and Conservation Programs. "The initial research project will help us understand how customers use this technology so that an effective program can be designed that fits into their modern lifestyles without compromising comfort, health and the environment."

For more information visit http://www.carrier.com/

Heat is on air-conditioning

The Sydney Morning Herald
May 6, 2008

As our summers get warmer, the race is on to design more efficient buildings and cooling systems, writes Helen Meredith.

Air-conditioners in office buildings could collapse under increased heat loads as climate change takes hold and temperatures rise, according to a study carried out at Queensland University of Technology's School of Engineering Systems.

Lisa Guan says her computer model of indoor thermal environments and the cooling load imposed on air-conditioners in office buildings shows that most units would not cope under the more extreme circumstances. External and internal heat would have to be reduced and new buildings designed to take better account of the potential impact of higher temperatures.

The results of Dr Guan's study were released as recent heatwaves in southern Australia sent sales of air-conditioners skyrocketing.

The extreme temperatures experienced in Adelaide, Melbourne and other urban centres during March have provided a glimpse of what could become more commonplace in the future.

Already concern at climate change and the environmental impact of chlorofluorocarbon and other similar refrigerants on the ozone layer has stimulated interest in developing "environmentally friendly" air-conditioning systems.

Dr Guan warns that when temperatures rise it will take more than conventional air-conditioners to cope with the heat.

She says systems will collapse: "If the outdoor temperature increases by two degrees, the risk of overheating in an air-conditioned office building will increase significantly.

"The cooling load on air-conditioners will increase by up to 47% in some Australian cities, based on CSIRO projections of the potential increase in temperature due to climate change."

Designing air-conditioning systems to cope with this would need to take account of heat generated inside buildings, as well as heat from the sun.

The number of people in office buildings, lighting and machines all produced a lot of heat for air-conditioners to deal with, Dr Guan says.

"An adult male generates 140 watts of heat, and a woman 85% of that. Heat generated from lights, computers, printers and copiers all contribute to the internal load."

Cutting that internal load would be as important as shielding buildings externally from the sun. "If we do nothing, the cooling capacity of air-conditioners will need to increase by up to 59%," says Dr Guan. Operating larger-capacity units would cost much more.

"Obviously this is not feasible. We need to find ways to reduce both the amount of sun falling on our buildings and the heat generated within them."

She is looking at how cope with higher temperatures in buildings, including automatic control of outdoor air intake for free cooling, systems to turn off unnecessary lights and innovative ways to improve how natural light is used to improve energy efficiency.

Other researchers within the Faculty of Built Environment and Engineering at QUT have been working on a solar-powered cooling system. It uses a closed cycle adsorption process as an alternative to conventional air-conditioning systems that use vapour compression.

Its big advantage is that it runs on low-grade thermal energy instead of high-grade electricity.

The liquid desiccant solar air-conditioner removes moisture from the air and provides 100% fresh air without the application of CFC.

This makes it possible to control humidity levels independently, leaving conventional systems to deal with temperature.

Senior lecturer Dr Kame Khouzam says work has more recently been concentrated on the application of the technology to crop drying where humidity control is critical.

That also extends to environments in which seed has to be stored for some time and the need for temperature control is also an issue.

Dr Khouzam says this doesn't mean the technology could not still answer the call for smarter air-conditioning in commercial buildings.

This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2008/05/05/1209839551700.html

 Energy Efficient and Superior Design

Carrier reverse cycle ducted air conditioning is up to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric heating. So not only will you have year round comfort, but it's cost effective too.

Carrier's advanced computer design technology ensures each system component is perfectly matched for optimum performance and energy efficiency.