Sun may cool us by powering air conditioners

William Atkins
Thursday, 05 February 2009 21:46

Science - Energy

Researchers at Australian National University are developing a solar-powered residential air conditioning and heating system that could help to cool us off in the summer and warm us in the winter, and also prevent power blackouts.


According to the Tuesday, February 3, 2009 ANU article “Solar-powered air-con to save power and planet,” Dr. Michael ("Mike") Dennis, from the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science, is developing a Sun-powered air-conditioning and heating system.

It could provide cool air in the hot summer months and warm air in the cold winter months.

The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university that is located in Canberra, Australia.

In addition, the solar-powered AC unit could alleviate the possibility of heat strokes in people and other hot weather problems that occur when power blackouts occur after electrical power grids are run to over-capacity and then fail.

Dr. Dennis also states that these solar-powered units are much more environmentally friendly than currently run units.

He says, “The refrigerants circulating in these units are several thousand times more potent greenhouse gases than carbon dioxide. For every kilogram of refrigerant you have in your split-system, you’ve got two or three thousand kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent locked up – as much as the average car puts out in a year."

Dennis adds, "There is a big question mark over what becomes of this refrigerant upon disposal of the air conditioner.” [ANU]

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