If you live in Temple Terrace, FL, you owe your home’s air conditioning quite a bit of thanks. It’s the only thing standing between you and the constant humidity and high temperatures that arrive each summer. However, there’s a good chance your house uses AC technology that hasn’t changed much in decades. If you’re considering an upgrade, you’ll want to know about the latest cooling technology. Here’s a guide to bring you up to speed.

Eco-Friendly Refrigerants

Sea level rises due to climate change pose an existential threat to our state. But did you know that most of the air conditioners in use here contribute to the problem? One major reason is that they use older refrigerants that, when released, contribute to global warming. The most common refrigerant in operating AC systems is R-410A. Fortunately, it’s not a threat to our ozone layer, like the earlier refrigerants it replaced. Unfortunately, it has a higher global warming potential (GWP) than earlier refrigerants. GWP tells you a substance’s greenhouse gas potential relative to carbon dioxide. The GWP of R-410A is a staggering 2,088.

Beginning in 2023, AC manufacturers started moving away from R-410A in favor of safer refrigerants. Now, you can purchase a new AC unit with refrigerants like R-32 and R-454B. They have a GWP of 675 and 466, respectively. Both offer enhanced cooling performance, too, which improves energy efficiency. That helps address the second reason that cooling systems contribute to climate change. By using less energy, newer AC units reduce emissions related to electricity generation. So, upgrading to a new air conditioner can help protect the environment and cut your cooling bills simultaneously.

Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps

Although not a recent innovation, ductless mini-split heat pumps are also gaining traction here. They’ve been a primary heating and cooling option in much of the world since the late 1950s. However, homebuilders in the US favored ducted systems, suppressing mini-splits’ popularity. That’s unfortunate because mini-splits have some decided advantages over ducted systems.

One advantage is that mini-splits offer zoned cooling and suffer fewer energy losses than ducted systems. That gives them a significant efficiency edge. As a result, mini-splits typically boast SEER ratings of 20 or higher. That’s a considerable advantage compared to the average new central AC SEER of 15. Plus, mini-splits give you more control over indoor temperatures than ducted systems. With a mini-split, you can set a different temperature in each room. Or, you can turn off cooling in rooms you’re not using.

HVAC Zoning Systems

Mini-splits aren’t the only way to add zoned cooling to your home. You can install an HVAC zoning system as an add-on that splits your house’s existing ductwork into multiple cooling zones. Then, each zone gets a thermostat to control it. You might, for example, make each floor of your home a zone. That would help you keep the upstairs comfortable without overcooling the first floor. Or, you might create a zone for your house’s bedrooms. Then, you could customize your sleeping conditions without affecting the rest of your household. Additionally, zoning systems improve your cooling efficiency and reduce wear and tear on your AC unit.

Solar-Powered Air Conditioning

Some of today’s mini-splits operate exclusively on solar power. Most offer single-room cooling, with an optional grid connection for nighttime operation. Such systems can help you add cooling capacity to parts of your home without air conditioning. And they help you do it while keeping operating costs low. For example, a solar mini-split could convert an unfinished basement or attic into a comfortable, usable space.

Smart AC Systems and Thermostats

Many of today’s latest AC systems offer easy integration with smart home systems. They use next-generation intelligent control systems to add features like voice control and geofencing. They also provide app-based operations. That lets you control your home’s AC unit from anywhere with internet access. New smart cooling systems also often contain advanced functionality like variable-speed motors and compressors. That enables them to take maximum advantage of their enhanced control systems to deliver higher efficiency.

Installing a smart thermostat can add some of those same functions to your existing air conditioner. They offer a cost-effective way to modernize your HVAC unit without replacing the whole system. Smart thermostats use advanced computer algorithms to make more effective and efficient use of your air conditioner. According to the Department of Energy (DOE), an Energy Star smart thermostat can cut your cooling costs by 8%. Some models promise savings between 15% and 26%.

Geothermal Cooling

When some people hear the term geothermal, they think of heat. However, geothermal HVAC systems also offer unparalleled cooling efficiency. They use a buried coolant loop that takes advantage of stable underground temperatures. Those loops can expel heat from your home in the summer and work effectively at any outside temperature. That makes geothermal a forward-looking cooling option for Temple Terrace homes. With summer temperatures projected to rise in the coming years, conventional AC units may struggle to keep up. Geothermal systems won’t. Additionally, geothermal systems boast extraordinary year-round efficiency. According to the DOE, geothermal cooling can cut your energy use by 72% compared to conventional air conditioning.

Crucially, it’s now possible to install geothermal underground loops vertically. Older systems could only use horizontal loops, which only larger properties could support. Using vertical loops, virtually any house with a backyard can have a geothermal system. Or, if your home borders a pond or another body of water, you could use a submerged coolant loop instead.

Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems

Finally, one of the latest cooling technology innovations is variable refrigerant flow (VRF). It’s a technology that many commercial cooling systems have used for years. However, it’s now starting to appear in residential systems, too. VRF involves using inverter compressors to alter refrigerant flows to an AC unit’s indoor air handlers. Most VRF systems are mini-splits. However, they provide additional flexibility because they can support more air handlers. That makes them an excellent option for larger properties. They also support air handlers with lower BTU outputs, making them capable of cooling smaller spaces efficiently.

VRF systems have some other tricks up their sleeves, too. For example, they include heat recovery functionality. When running in heat recovery mode, they move heat between rooms instead of collecting or expelling it outside. Operating in that mode saves energy and helps VRF systems maintain even temperatures throughout your house.

Cooling Technology Experts

If the AC system in your Temple Terrace home needs an upgrade, Ahoy! Cooling & Heating is the right place to call. Our HVAC team understands the latest innovations in residential cooling and can recommend the best solution. We’ve served local homes and businesses since 2010. We offer clear, transparent communication and up-front, flat-rate pricing. Plus, we provide a two-year test drive guarantee on all new cooling systems. If you’re unhappy with your new system after two years, we’ll refund your money. You can also count on us for your HVAC maintenance and repair needs. If you need a new cooling system, like a ductless mini-split, or a central AC installation for your Temple Terrace home, give Ahoy! Cooling & Heating a call today!

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