Air conditioning / Green Building & Sustainable Home Renovation Information & Advice

Solar radiation absorbed by concrete and pavement increases urban temperatures
Concept and design

What is the Heat Island Effect and How to Mitigate it to stay cool?

...air, and there are fewer of those in the city. Most homes in the developed world have air conditioning, and as air conditioners run they eject heat into the surrounding outside air making the temperature soar.  Workers paint a roadway to reduce the heat island effect by making it more reflective. There are home desig...

Reflective Window Film to Reduce Overheating
Windows and doors

Window Film Treatment to Reflect Heat and Lower Air Conditioning Bills

...air conditioning to keep a home cool during extreme heat waves, the investment in mechanical systems and the operational energy costs can be significant, and that will continue to grow just as the frequency and severity of extreme heat advisories grows.  The environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions from home c...

Geothermal Heating Systems
Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

Geothermal heating for Homes in North America - Does it work & will it save money?

...air conditioning, only heat is not simply ejected into the outside air, but rather deposited deep in the ground for future use. The result is guilt-free air conditioning because the heat extracted in summer months is actually used to warm the earth deep below, heat which will increase the efficiency of the ground sourc...

How do heat pumps Work? Ecohome explains all about heat pumps...
Heat pumps, geothermal and AC

Heat pumps: what they are and how they work

...air conditioner combo. Other interesting advantages include increased indoor air quality, since there are no fuels being burned and exhausted and the system will always add fresh air into the home. Heat pumps are also quite versatile; they can be used to heat incoming air from the outside, or as an air-to-water heat pu...

Reducing the Need For Air Conditioning and Staying Cool in Hot Weather
Heating and cooling

How to Keep Homes Cool without Air Conditioning Naturally

...air. Read more here about vertical gardens and living green walls inside homes. Heat pump water heaters help cool a home as they extract heat from the air to generate hot water. Rather than shooting hot air at your neighbours house, a heat pump water heater converts heat in the air into hot water, and the result is tha...