Eco Factor: A/C powered by solar energy.

Earlier this month, researchers at the Australian National University developed solar air-conditioning units for smart homes with even smarter living rooms. The unit’s only drawback was its cooling capacity, which was just good enough for a small room. Well, if you want to host a party in your home this summer, you’ll need much more than a ton or two of cooling, and a new launch by Coolerado Air Conditioners will help you do just that.

The company has launched a new air conditioner that produces a massive 6 tons of cooling using 600 watts of power generated by the four solar panels that the unit is equipped with. To get that amount of cooling with solar panels capable of just 600 watts, the units rely on a simple yet ingenious technology. As outside air is sucked into the A/C by a fan it passed through an array of 2-inch-thick filters and the Heat and Mass Exchange (HMX) system. 50% of the air that enters the A/C is cooled and released into the room that requires cooling. The other 50% is too humid and is used to cool the air conditioner unit and its solar panels.

Solar panels generate less electricity if they get too hot, something which is common in warm areas. The use of exhaust air to keep the temperature of solar panels under control makes them more efficient and hence more electricity is generated using a lesser number of panels.

The Dark Side:

Apart from providing clean air-conditioning, the system still has been criticized for using about 4 gallons of water per hour, which accounts for more than 96 gallons of water a day.

Via: Treehugger422577