While Sardinia and the rest of Europe are experiencing record temperatures, using air conditioning correctly can make a difference in consumption. Regular maintenance, choosing energy-efficient models, proper installation and positioning of units, ensuring temperatures aren't excessively low, using a separate split system for each room, keeping doors and windows closed during operation, smart thermostats, paying attention to internal heat sources, and conducting a building's energy audit are some of the recommended measures. The guidelines, developed by ENEA and relaunched by the installers of Confartigianato Sardegna, aim to improve home comfort and keep energy bills low during the hottest months.

Indeed, it's well known that heat isn't a friend to energy bills, which have already skyrocketed due to the high energy prices that have persisted for several years. Furthermore, the soaring thermometer and the muggy heat are increasing the use of the more than 350,000 air conditioning systems installed in homes, shops, and businesses in Sardinia, which remain on for an average of about six hours a day.

According to the most recent data from the Research Office of Confartigianato Sardegna, 59.9% of properties on the island use a hot/cold air conditioning system (i.e., a single air conditioning system for summer and winter), compared to the Italian average of 48.8%. Within this percentage, 82.9% are fixed or portable heat pumps, 13.2% are air conditioners used only for cooling, and 3.9% are centralized systems.

The island is third in Italy for air conditioning systems , after Veneto and Sicily. In the hottest months, air conditioners are on for an average of 6 hours and 17 minutes per day ; they are on for about three hours in the afternoon, just over two hours at night, and about one hour in the morning. Centralized or independent air conditioning systems are on longer (7 hours and 11 minutes) than individual cooling-only units (6 hours and 7 minutes) or heating/cooling units (6 hours and one minute). Families with at least one elderly person turn their air conditioners on almost 30 minutes less than other families. In the afternoon, elderly people living alone (65 years and over) turn them on for about 20 minutes less than other families, while they turn them on less at night.

"Today, air conditioning is no longer just a device for combating the heat, but a true system for domestic comfort ," says Giuseppe Tatti, provincial president of the installation engineers of Confartigianato Nuoro Ogliastra. "Choosing and using it correctly means improving family well-being, reducing consumption, and looking more consciously at the energy future of our homes." "The energy consumption of a system depends on several factors that should be carefully evaluated before purchasing," continues Tatti. "The main ones include the type of appliance (fixed or portable), its power, its energy class, and the presence of inverter technology . To find out how much an air conditioner consumes, simply consult the product's technical data sheet , checking in particular the minimum and maximum consumption values in cooling mode. For this reason, it is essential to pay attention both during the selection phase and during installation and use, always relying on qualified and certified companies." "A crucial aspect for achieving real energy savings," adds the President, "is the correct sizing of the unit ." Although it may seem like a minor detail, those who buy independently often tend to choose appliances that are more powerful than necessary , thinking they will obtain greater guarantees of comfort. In reality, this choice can produce the opposite effect : the room reaches the set temperature too quickly and the compressor is unable to modulate the operation correctly , making the machine work like the old "on-off" systems and canceling out the advantages of reverse technology.

Confartigianato Sardegna installers also emphasize that each type of air conditioner meets specific needs. Portable models are a suitable solution for emergency situations or occasional use , while a mid-range fixed air conditioner may be adequate for homes used occasionally. For primary residences, however, it's important to carefully evaluate the energy efficiency class and proper sizing of the system, as a poor choice or an unsuitable appliance can significantly impact annual energy consumption.

The recommendations from ENEA and Confartigianato Sardegna begin with regular air conditioning maintenance , choosing high-efficiency inverter models , and proper installation . It's advisable to keep shutters, doors, and windows closed during the hottest hours of the day, avoiding excessively low temperatures. A single air conditioner installed in the hallway isn't enough to cool the entire house: each room should have its own system. To reduce consumption, it's also helpful to insulate the refrigerant circuit pipes , protect the outdoor unit from the sun , use programmable thermostats and a "sleep" function, and limit the use of heat-producing appliances . Finally, to improve the home's energy efficiency, it's recommended to consider combining a heat pump with photovoltaic panels and have the home undergo an energy audit, also to access available incentives.

(Unioneonline)

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