HVAC – Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
Considerations
- Permanent – more often use – vs more as backup, emergency use.
- Permanent
- Whole-house (t0pic outside realm of this site; permanent whole house systems always uses as lot of energy, not suitable for backup generator use…)
- Window units.
- Temporary
- Portable. Think about alternative use, like for garage or external workshop when not used in emergency case (like cooling / heating a bedroom+bath)
- Window unit that can be installed / removed w/o too much hassle
- Permanent
- How big unit, capacity for cooling AND/or heating, depending on what emergency scenario you focus on mitigating.
- Use SACC values for comparisons!
- Powering – how many watts will be required to run the unit, in different modes. Think backup generator calculations, how big unit will be required.
- … (ease of use, maintenance requirements, brand / quality, price – CAPEX, OPEX, …)
Dimensioning – Capacity
SACC = Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC) ratings (US DOE, Department of Energy)
- ashrae.org/technical-resources/free-resources/choosing-the-right-system-for-your-home
- google.com/search?q=sacc+calculator+heating+capacity
- AC Btu Calculator – What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need? – pickhvac.com/calculator/ac-btu/
Technology Considerations
- Single v Dual Hose
- Single vs Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners – youtube.com/watch?v=WMIKrW5131s&ab_channel=ConsumerAnalysis
- ‘Do not use Single v Dual to decide which unit to buy, instead use “SACC” value’ (higher is better) [cooling functionality] heating?
- Single vs. Dual Hose Portable ACs | Sylvane – youtube.com/watch?v=rHklc5mlzas&ab_channel=Sylvane-AirQualityExperts
- ‘Dual-hose ACs are more efficient,’ … ‘But single-hose ACs tend to be cheaper and use less energy overall during operation’
- Single vs Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners – youtube.com/watch?v=WMIKrW5131s&ab_channel=ConsumerAnalysis
EXAMPLE
- Primarily as Temporary use / Backup, in case of emergency.
- Cooling – Hot summers, if / when electrical grid fails (fair to expect more to happen, global warming and all)
- Heating – Winter storms, if / when electrical grid fails … (point just made)
- 400 SF (for one bedroom and a connected bathroom) – an emergency area
- Backup power source will be a portable petrol-based generator, aim for 1000 W use or less
Resources
- Consumer Reports
- consumerreports.org/products/air-conditioners-28969/portable-air-conditioners-37010/view2/
- Why Not to Buy a Portable Air Conditioner – consumerreports.org/video/view/home-garden/energy-efficiency/6173734875001/why-not-to-buy-a-portable-air-conditioner/
- consumerreports.org/video/view/home-garden/energy-efficiency/3667739948001/portable-air-conditioners-disappoint/
- Consumer Analysis – a guy that seems to be quite impartial, and educational!
- The Best Portable Air Conditioner – A Buying Guide – youtube.com/watch?v=qV_cGSlxzPk&ab_channel=ConsumerAnalysis
- (Also above) Single vs Dual Hose Portable Air Conditioners – youtube.com/watch?v=WMIKrW5131s&ab_channel=ConsumerAnalysis
- His channel: youtube.com/channel/UCNhyZZ8OotnN9E1rQYriuiA
- google.com/search?q=portable+air+conditioner+heater
- bestreviews.guide/portable-air-conditioner-heater-combo
- comparaboo.com/portable-air-conditioner-heater-combo