Where is the electricity to run it going to come from?
Modern air conditioning can provide highly efficient heating and cooling, but it still requires electricity.
At INVO AICON, we believe it makes sense to look at that electricity requirement at the same time as we design your air-conditioning system.
Because there is a very natural partnership between:
AIR CONDITIONING + SOLAR PV + BATTERY STORAGE
When summer temperatures rise and your air conditioning is working harder, your roof could also be generating electricity from solar PV.
Rather than treating them as completely separate projects, INVO AICON and Procure Direct can design, install and optimise them together.
One building. One energy strategy. One company.
It’s one of the most common questions we’re asked.
The answer depends on the system, the building and how you use it.
The running cost of commercial air conditioning is affected by:
There is also an important distinction between the cooling capacity of an air-conditioning system and the electricity it actually consumes.
A modern heat-pump air-conditioning system moves heat rather than simply converting electricity directly into cooling. This means the cooling output shown on an AC system is not the same as its electrical consumption.
So a system described as providing, for example, 10kW of cooling does not automatically consume 10kW of electricity.
That’s why we believe commercial air conditioning should be properly designed and sized rather than simply selected from a price list.
Tell us about your premises, operating hours and requirements and we’ll help you understand the likely electrical demand.
WHAT IF YOUR BUILDING COULD GENERATE SOME OF THE ELECTRICITY YOUR AIR CONDITIONING NEEDS?
Think about a typical British summer.
The sun comes out.
The building starts getting warmer.
Your air conditioning starts working harder.
But at exactly the same time, your solar PV system can be generating electricity.
Solar PV converts daylight into electricity that can be used within your building.
If your air conditioning is operating while your solar panels are generating, the electricity produced on your roof can contribute towards the electrical demand of your AC system and the rest of the building.
That means less electricity may need to be purchased from the grid at that moment.
And that’s where combining air conditioning and solar PV starts to make a lot of sense.
Solar PV generates electricity during daylight hours.
But what happens when your solar system produces more electricity than your building needs at that particular moment? One option is battery storage.
A correctly designed battery system can store surplus solar-generated electricity and make that energy available later. For example:
10:00 AM Solar generation is increasing as your business begins consuming more electricity.
12:00 PM The day becomes warmer. Air-conditioning demand increases and solar-generated electricity contributes towards the building’s electrical demand.
2:00 PM Solar generation is strong. The building uses the electricity it requires and suitable surplus generation can be used to charge the battery.
5:00 PM Solar output begins to reduce but the building may still be occupied and the air conditioning may still be operating.
Stored electricity can then contribute towards the building’s demand, reducing the amount that needs to be imported from the grid.
That’s a much smarter way of thinking about energy.
Because we see more than an air-conditioning unit. Many companies can install air conditioning. Many companies can install solar panels.
But these systems ultimately become part of the same building and the same electrical infrastructure.
INVO AICON is part of the Procure Direct family, giving our customers access to expertise across:
Commercial heating and cooling designed around the building, its occupants and how the space is actually used.
Commercial solar generation designed around available roof space and the building’s electrical consumption.
Energy storage solutions considered alongside solar generation and the building’s demand profile.
The electrical infrastructure, distribution, protection and installation required to bring everything together.
Air conditioning, electrical systems and solar PV are long-term assets. Through Procure Direct, we can continue supporting and maintaining your building after installation.
One contractor. One point of contact. One coordinated solution.
Part of the Procure Direct family.
ONE BUILDING. ONE ENERGY STRATEGY. ONE COMPANY.
Get a free quote today
