This little solar gadget uses evaporative cooling to cut AC costs up to 30% By adapting a proven technology used in commercial AC units to home central air conditioners, Mistbox increases the efficiency of the units, saving up to 30% on AC costs.As we get closer to summer, keeping the inside of our homes cool begins to be one of our priorities, but running an AC unit to do so can come at a high cost, not just in money, but also in energy. AC costs can quickly add up during hot weather, but there's a way to decrease those costs using just water, and it doesn't involve a swamp cooler or increasing the humidity within your home.One of the issues with central air conditioning units is the fact that during the times when you need it the most, the condenser unit, which sits outside the home, is forced to use the hot outside air to cool off the refrigerant. This leads to a harder-working AC unit and increased power consumption, which in turn translates into higher costs. However, by pre-cooling the immediate area around the condenser unit with a fine mist of water, AC units can run more efficiently, which reduces both power consumption and costs.

Mistbox, which promises a quick and easy 5-minute installation, along with a set-it-and-forget-it computer-optimized control system, is a small solar-powered misting unit that mounts to the outside of the AC condenser, enabling the condenser to pull in cooler air for its operation during hot days. what is an ac split unitAccording to the company, this can reduce AC costs anywhere from 20-40%, right from the get-go, and can pay for itself within the first season of use.ac unit lgHere's how it works:Because the water mist merely cools the outside condenser unit, it doesn't enter the home's air supply, so humidity levels won't rise inside the home (which might be a boon in arid regions, but is completely undesirable in humid areas). recharging home air conditioner cost

And the company says that because the mist from the units is a 'fine spray' and the unit only runs when conditions require it (based on the temperature settings for the unit), "not much water is used," amounting to just pennies per day.Mistbox retails for $399, and in the US, qualifies for the 30% residential energy tax credit. Find out more at Mistbox. save you so much money in energy costs (while helping the environment) that you will be tempted to install one immediately. However, a geothermal system costs so much to install that you will be tempted to forget the whole thing. A geothermal heat pump draws heat from the ground and releases it in your home. Figure A: Geothermal Heat Pump A geothermal heat pump is vastly more efficient than because it doesn’t burn fuel to existing heat from one place relatively constant 50 degrees F year round, the system requires a lot less energy to cool your home than conventional AC systems

or air-source heat pumps, which use outside air as a transferDuring the heating season, the liquid pulls heat from the ground and delivers it to the geothermal unit and then to refrigerant coils, where the heat is distributed through a forced-air or hydronic system. the cooling season, the process runs in reverse. pump removes heat from your house and transfers it to the earth. Many units can provide domestic hotYour fridge removes heat from its interior and transfers it toA geothermal heat pump uses the same principle, but it transfers heat from the ground to your house (orIt does this through long loops of underground pipes filled with liquid (water or an antifreeze solution). The loops are hooked up to a geothermal heat pump in your home, which acts as both a furnace and an air conditioner.You’ll find a variety of federal, state and local financing, rebates and For more information on geothermal Rebates, Incentives and More Information

You’ll find a variety of federal, state Recouping these costs through energy savings could take as little as four years or as long as 15 years depending on utility rates and the cost of installation. It takes some homework and professional estimates to figure out whether a geothermal system makes financial sense in your situation. Let’s not sugarcoat it—installing a geothermal system is expensive. It costs $10,000 to $30,000 depending on your soil conditions, plot size, system configuration, the amount of digging and drilling required. 2,000-sq.-ft. home, a geothermal retrofit ranges from $10,000The system may require ductwork modifications along with extensive excavation. In a new home, installation costs would be on the lower end. Even so, a geothermal system will cost about 40 percent more than a traditionalLow maintenance and long-lived. typically last about 25 years (compared with 15 years or less for a furnace or conventional AC unit) and

more than 50 years for the ground loop. fewer moving parts and is protected from outdoor elements, so it requires minimal maintenance.Much quieter than other cooling systems. noisy outdoor compressor or fan. The indoor unit is generally as loud as a refrigerator.Can be installed in both new construction and retrofitHowever, it’s a lot more expensive in retrofitsUses clean, renewable energy (the sun). heat pump, there’s no onsite combustion and therefore no emissions of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or other greenhouse gases. Nor are there any combustion-related safety or air quality issues inside(However, the pump unit uses electricity, which may be generated using fossil fuels.)Much lower operating costs than other systems. geothermal heat pump will immediately save you 30 to 60 percent on your heating and 20 to 50 percent on your cooling costs over conventional heating and coolingInstallation is highly disruptive to the landscape

and may not be possible on some lots. or digging equipment will definitely crush yourStill relatively new, so there are fewer installers and less competition (which is why prices remainNot a DIY project. Sizing, design and installation require pro expertise for the most efficient system. The three closed-loop systems shown below are theThere is also a less common open-loop system that circulates surface water or water from a well through the system and returns it to the ground through a discharge pipe. The best system, loop length and design for a particular home depend on a variety of factors such as climate, soil conditions, available land, required heating and cooling load, and local installation costs Figure B: Horizontal System Layered coils or straight runs are placed in 6-ft.-deep trenches. This is the cheapest underground option, but it requires a lot of openA 2,000-sq.-ft. house requires

400 ft. of 2-ft.-wide trenches. Figure C: Vertical System holes are drilled about 15 ft. apart and 100 to 400 ft. deep. inserted and connect at the bottom. Figure D: Pond/Lake System This system draws heat from water rather than body of water nearby, this is the lowest cost option. of water covers coils anchored on racks about 10 ft. deep. Is Geothermal Right for You? About 100,000 geothermal heat pumps are installed in the United States each year, and according to Bob Donley, customer support manager at GeoSystems LLC in Minnesota, interest in geothermal is really on the rise. “In 2008 alone, the industry saw a 40 percent increase you’re a good candidate for a geothermal • Can stomach the upfront costs and plan to stay in your house for at least four to seven years (new construction) or 10 to 12 years (retrofit) to recoup initial costs • Live on a large lot with a pond or