Officials: AC unit blamed for gas leak scare at USM's Gorham campus GORHAM, Maine — Fire officials said the smell of an old air conditioning unit was mistaken for a formaldehyde leak at USM in Gorham Wednesday. Firefighters responded to Bailey Hall around 3:15 p.m.The scene was cleared a short time later.Gas air conditioning dates back to the 1930s and 1940s, when most Americans relied on natural gas to cool their homes and businesses. Although the technology fell out of favor in the 1960s, with the introduction of then more cost and energy efficient electric cooling systems, gas ac is making a comeback in the commercial and residential market sectors. For contractors and builders, offering gas air conditioner solutions is important today, when so many customers are concerned about energy savings and green living. New gas air conditioners use 30% to 50% less energy than electric air conditioning systems and the average gas air conditioning system lasts 2 to 3 times longer than an electrical unit.

Gas AC units require relatively little maintenance and the environmentally friendly ammonia/water absorption process is ideal for areas with strict environmental laws. Before purchasing a gas air conditioner, consider the following: 1. Analyzing the various kinds of gas AC units available for commercial use. 2. Learning about the benefits of gas air conditioners for residential use. 3. Determine how gas air conditioning can positively affect your bottom line and our environment.central ac units made in usa Decide which type of gas air conditioning unit is best for your commercial clientoutside ac unit not kicking on There are three types of gas air conditioners: absorption, engine-driven and desiccant. cost to repair ac in carAbsorption natural gas air conditioners use a cycle of condensation and evaporation of a refrigerant or coolant, much like a vapor compression system, while an engine-driven gas AC works like an electric chiller, using a vapor compression cycle.

A desiccant gas powered air conditioner uses two rotating desiccant wheels as part of an evaporative cooling process. Get cutting edge gas ac units for your residential clients The recent increase in demand, by both homeowners and builders, for more energy efficient air conditioning systems has spurred an increase in the production of residential gas ac units. Since green living is a relatively new concept, however, and because high efficiency gas ac is a relatively new technology, there are few companies who manufacture gas powered air conditioners for residential use. Calculate the benefits of gas AC over electric Although high gas air conditioner prices may make it difficult to convince a client, our yourself, that gas air conditioning is the way to go. Gas powered air conditioning, however, is far less expensive to operate and maintain than electric and investors in the technology consistently enjoy a quick return. Gas air conditioning not only reduces your client's long-term energy costs, but can significantly decrease your carbon footprint, as a contractor or builder.

Some utility companies offer rebates to customers who install gas air conditioners. Since this can make your gas air conditioner purchase less expensive than you imagined, be sure to call your utility company before making a final home cooling system decision. Another great benefit of gas air conditioners is they can keep your home or business cool during a blackout. This is great news for those who live in areas with overburdened electric grids.Environ Sci Technol. 2012 Dec 4;46(23):12977-85. Epub 2012 Nov 20.Galka MD1, Lownsbury JM, Blowers P.Author information1Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721-0011, USA.AbstractIn this work, potential replacement refrigerants for window-mounted room air conditioners (RACs) in the U.S. have been evaluated using a greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions analysis. CO(2)-equivalent emissions for several hydrofluoroethers (HFEs) and other potential replacements were compared to the most widely used refrigerants today.

Included in this comparison are pure refrigerants that make up a number of hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) mixtures, pure hydrocarbons, and historically used refrigerants such as propane and ammonia. GHG emissions from direct and indirect sources were considered in this thermodynamic analysis. Propylene, dimethyl ether, ammonia, R-152a, propane, and HFE-152a all performed effectively in a 1 ton window unit and produced slightly lower emissions than the currently used R-22 and R-134a. The results suggest that regulation of HFCs in this application would have some effect on reducing emissions since end-of-life emissions remain at 55% of total refrigerant charge despite EPA regulations that mandate 80% recovery. Even so, offsite emissions due to energy generation dominate over direct GHG emissions and all the refrigerants perform similarly in totals of indirect GHG emissions.PMID: 23136858 DOI: 10.1021/es302338s [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] Publication TypesResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tResearch Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.MeSH TermsAir Conditioning*/methodsAir Pollutants/analysis*Ammonia/analysisGases/analysis*Greenhouse EffectHydrocarbons/analysisHydrocarbons, Fluorinated/analysisSubstancesAir PollutantsGasesHydrocarbonsHydrocarbons, FluorinatedAmmoniaFull Text SourcesAmerican Chemical SocietyMiscellaneousAmmonia - Hazardous Substances Data Bank

What is the Summer Saver device? The Summer Saver device is a small, wireless box mounted near your central air conditioning unit. It operates with central air conditioning systems and is not designed for room A/C units or small space units. While the Summer Saver device works with most central air conditioning systems, there are some systems that are not recommended to be operated with these devices. These include central air conditioners with communications boards, integrated environmental controls, energy management systems, variable speed compressors, or special wiring. A trained Summer Saver technician will carefully evaluate your unit’s compatibility before beginning any installation activities. If your unit is not compatible, you aren’t eligible to participate in the Summer Saver program. How does the Summer Save device work? On select hot summer days, a remote signal is sent to activate the device, which then cycles the cooling function of your central A/C "on and off" for a few hours.

Is the Summer Saver device safe to use with my central A/C unit?More than five million similar devices have been installed nationwide. During normal operation your central air conditioning turns "on and off" based on your thermostat setting. This is called cycling. Whenever there is a power emergency or critical peak demand, your Summer Saver device will be activated for a conservation period of two to four hours. While your central air conditioner is in a conservation mode the run-time of the condenser (the cooling portion) will be reduced to save energy. However, your fan, which requires little energy to operate, continues to circulate air for added comfort. What is the difference between the 50% and 100% cycling options? 50%: With 50% cycling, your air conditioning will run half the time that it ran in the hour before the conservation period. When the conservation period is over your air conditioning will return to normal operation under the control of your thermostat setting.

100%: With 100% cycling, your air conditioning is turned off for the duration of the conservation period. The temperature increase will vary by type of residence and will be noticeable if you are at home. What is a "ton"? Tonnage is used to express the one-hour cooling capacity of air conditioners. One ton is 12,000 BTUs of cooling/hour. On average, one ton will cool from 400-700 square feet in a residential application. How do I calculate my bill credit? Your bill credit is based on the tonnage of your system. At 50% cycling, you are paid $11.50 per ton.  For example, if you have a 4 ton system, you credit would be $46. For 100% cycling, you are paid $30 per ton. For a 4 ton system, you'd earn $120. Will the Summer Saver turn my air conditioning on, if it is off?The device will not turn on your air conditioning on in order to cycle. It is designed to only work with units that are operating during the conservation period. When will the device be installed?

Generally, within two weeks of signing up. A typical residential installation takes about 30 minutes provided the technician has access to your exterior A/C unit. You don't need to be present, but you may schedule an installation for a time when you will be home. Who provides the installation and technology? We have an agreement with a third-party, Comverge, Inc. They are responsible for installing, removing and servicing the wireless unit. How does the annual bill credit work? Participation in Summer Saver begins the day your cycling device is installed. If your install occurs after October 1, you’ll receive a credit on your December SDG&E bill of the following year. The amount of your credit is based on the size of your A/C unit and the cycling option you choose. You may change your cycling option any time prior to August 31st; your bill credit will be based on your cycling option as of October 31st. Between September 1st and October 31st, you may only decrease your level of participation (from 100% to 50%).

If you enroll between September 1st and October 31st you will be enrolled at the 50% cycling option. You may opt out of the program at any time but will not receive any compensation for partial participation. I have more than one central air conditioner. Can I receive a credit for each?You can enroll one or as many units as you have. The Summer Saver device can be installed on every working unit on your premise and your bill credit will reflect the tonnage of all your A/Cs. What if I want to change my cycling option? It's quick and easy. Whether you want to upgrade your option to earn a higher bill credit or drop down to 50% cycling, you can make the change with just one phone call. Call the Summer Saver Customer Care Center at 1-800-850-1705 and your request will be implemented in 48 hours. What if I sign up for a Summer Saver option, but then decide it’s not for me? If you are not satisfied, you can request to leave the Summer Saver program option at anytime, at no cost.