Retired Techie

Introduction

Okay, this is a somewhat off the wall and limited topic. But it is something I see a lot here in the Philippines. So I want to talk specifics about how one uses Air Conditioning (AC), as this can have a huge effect on the household budget.

Air Conditioning in General

So far my experience is very few homes have centralized AC. What I have seen is that most private homes have room air conditioners. They are evenly divided between split and simple window units.

Economics is a minor factor in this. But from what I have observed in the areas I have visited, it is more often related to planning. Window type units seem to be more common on older construction. Yes I see more window units in less affluent areas also. But more often than not, the window type unit is much cheaper to install that a split unit, especially in older construction that was not designed for split units.

How I See Air Conditioners Used

I am firmly convinced most people do not know how ACs actually work. How often have I been told to turn the temperature down because it will cool faster. Sorry to say ACs do not work that way. They put out a fixed amount of cool air. It does not vary by adjusting the thermostat. The only thing adjusting the thermostat does is determine at what temperature the AC will stop cooling.

So set the thermostat to the desired temperature, and wait. Lowering it will not make things cool down any faster.

Better Cheaper Way to Use the Air Conditioning

The basic premises is the higher the humidity the more hot and muggy one will feel. And the Philippines tends to be a very high humidity muggy place to live.

Most modern ACs have what is called a Dry Mode. This mode is not designed to cool. Rather it is designed to remove moisture from the air. Less moisture in the air and you don’t feel as hot, sweaty, and muggy.

Here is an interesting thing about dry mode. It uses far less power than cool mode. In many cases you can run dry mode all day and it will use less energy than running cool mode all night.

Here is a quick experiment to try, if you have just room ACs in your house. Run the AC in dry mode and close the door. Give it an hour or so. Then enter the room and close the door behind you. The room will be a bit cooler, but have far less humidity in the air. It will be comfortable without being chilly.

Why this is Important

Lets face it, power in the Philippines is expensive. In the place I stay in the Philippines, it is more than twice as expensive as what I was charged back in the States. And running your AC in dry mode can cut the electric bill by 25% to 50%. Most people moving to the Philippines should be aware it is a tropical country and they can expect it to be warm. Regardless of whether one can afford it or not, why pay all that extra money in electricity, then hide in your room because it is hot outside.

News flash, unless you live in places like Tagaytay or Baguio, it is always going to be hot outside. Get used to the climate. Save some money running your AC in dry mode, and enjoy your time here much more.