The New York Times of June 21, 2012 paints an alarming picture of the spectre of global warming that looms before us due to the reckless expansion of air conditioning in India and China. World-wide it predicts that air conditioning will be responsible for 27% of global warming by 2050. Over the past six summers, after developing over 30 variegated models of Snowbreeze, a mild ice-based air-conditioning system, partly funded by Government of India, we have at last come to a model which you can make yourself without any help. It is a perfect low intensity air conditioner consisting only of a plastic bucket, some aluminium pipes and an exhaust fan. In winter you can convert it into an energy saving and humidified room heater. A silent green "ice energy" revolution is taking place in Europe to cool offices with ice. The Economist (London) says that "in southern Europe (spanning over a dozen countries from Atlantic to Black Sea) roughly one in 20 air conditioned offices is now cooled with ice."

A Chinese company is the first to undertake commercial manufacture and marketing of various models of Snowbreeze. When will India wake up Given that we're in the height of summer now with the rainy season behind us, temps are soaring across the country and folks are suffering from heatstroke left and right, this might be a good time to look at how to use your air conditioner, especially as I've received several requests for this post. ac unit in car windowOf course, we should all be trying to do our best to save electricity or finding other ways to cool off, but now that we have a baby, I understand the importance of regulating the temperature somewhat (or else, we NEVER sleep at night due to a cranky, hot little one).how to open window ac unit And if the heat and humidity are enough to actually affect you negatively, then please be careful and cool down as needed. buy house ac unit

It's crazy (in a bad way) to see how many people are falling victim to the heat, this year and every year. Back to your air conditioner. Keep in mind that aircon makes and models vary -- some have only the most basic features and others a long list of options. I'm using our air conditioner remote as an example for this post, but there are remotes that differ to some extent. Some features might be called something else under different models, as well. The basic functions on most air conditioners will include some or all of the following: 除湿 じょしつjoshitsu dehumidify (may also see this as ドライ) If you use the dehumidify function, you can save some electricity versus using the air conditioning function, although it, of course, won't really cool things down (usually heats up the room instead), but just reduces moisture in the air, which can feel better in some cases. You might also see this function as ドライ. The automatic function, from my understanding, is slightly different among models, but it basically regulates the room's temperature and humidity automatically, depending on how it's set and the manufacturer's settings.

Some air conditioners have an on/off switch while others (like ours above) have an off/stop button (停止, ていし, teishi) and the function buttons can be pressed to turn it on (such as a/c, heating, etc.) A simpler version than the other two photos, with some similar but some different options. Other aircon settings include (see the vocabulary chart below the picture for more detailed translations and other words to know): energy saving mode ( strength or amount of air flow Some air conditioners also have timers, which you can see in the picture above. Again, these may vary by make and model but in our case the おやすみ timer acts as a countdown timer so the aircon  turns off after the period of time you specify. The other two timers allow you to specify a time you want the aircon to turn off and on, perhaps to make sure it turns off when you leave for work, or to turn on right before you get home, etc. ハイパワー - haipawaahigh power スイング -suingu swing (the fan will swing up and down) - you might also see swing as 上下風向

風向 かざむき or ふうこう  kazamuki or fuukou direction of "wind" (the fan) 省パワーしょうパワー shoupawa- energy saving mode 風量ふうりょう  fuuryou kirikae "wind" (fan) strength, amount of air flow 強風きょうふう kyoufuu strong, high (fan, wind) 弱風じゃくふう jyakufuu weak, low (fan, wind) 微風びふう bifuu very low, breeze 静音せいおん seion quiet mode Now, hopefully you'll be able to work that heating/cooling device on your wall. Those of you with aircon remotes, what other functions does your make and model have?Subscribe for free updates: via RSS or emailAll-time summer heat records keep buckling under the weight of rising global temps—a trend that hits home, literally and figuratively, when you receive your monthly air conditioning bill. Unfortunately, mistakes you’re making with your home AC may be undercutting its efficiency, effectiveness, and safety, experts say. “If you have a badly maintained system, it can become contaminated with microorganisms that may be harmful if inhaled,” says Mark Mendell, a staff scientist with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Indoor Environment Group.

Mendell mentions asthma problems and allergies as some of those possible harms. Here are eight of the most common mistakes people make when it comes to home AC, and some simple adjustments that can save your lungs and wallet. You Aren’t Changing or Cleaning Your AC Filters At a minimum, you should be changing the filter on your central AC unit once every three months—and as often as once a month if your system is running all the time. Neglect this chore, and a dirty filter can lead to poor air flow or freezing up of your unit’s evaporator coil, says James Braun, a professor of engineering and director of the Center for High Performance Buildings at Purdue University. A filthy filter could add 5% to 15% to your AC bill, and will shorten the lifespan of your whole system. Fortunately, replacement filters are pretty cheap—usually less than $10. If you have ductless “split” AC units, there should be a removable panel on your unit that will allow you to wipe off the filter with a rag—no replacement necessary.

You’re Not Having Your System Serviced Annually You could look up online video tutorials about cleaning your AC unit’s coils and fins—necessary maintenance operations that keep your system up and running efficiently, Braun says. You could also bring in a pro to service your system once a year. The U.S. Department of Energy offers some tips when searching for AC service contractors. You Don’t Have a Programmable Thermostat Maybe you’re one of those superhumans who always remembers to adjust the thermostat before leaving the house. But if you’re like the rest of us, a programmable thermostat can save you hundreds on your annual AC bill by automatically raising the temp at those times of day when you’re at work or away from home, Braun says. Newer phone-controllable “smart” thermostats make programming even simpler, he adds. You’re Setting Your Thermostat Too Low Research shows the human body is capable of adapting to hot or cool temperatures pretty quickly—like within a week or two.

When you consider you’ll cut up to 3% off your AC bill for every degree you raise the temperature—not to mention the potential environmental benefits of lowering your AC use—it’s worth sweating through that adjustment period and setting your thermostat somewhere in the high 70s (or higher if you can handle it). You’re Not Taking Full Advantage of Fans Any type of fan, but especially ceiling fans, can help keep cool air circulating throughout your home. That removes some of the burden from your AC system, Braun says. Just be sure your ceiling fans are turning counterclockwise during the summer, which promotes greater air flow. Your Thermostat and/or Vents Are Poorly Positioned If the sun or a nearby lamp blasts your thermostat for big chunks of the day, that could throw off its readings and cause it to crank your AC even though your place is pleasantly cool. Especially if you’re away during the day, you may not realize your system is working overtime due to a misplaced thermostat, Braun says.