Has anyone here had any experience with any thru wall air conditioners that meet energy star ratings and are of good quality? I am currently working on a patio home project that will be heated with radiant slab heat. These will be very well insulated, not too big,{1150-1450 sq.ft.} with a fairly open floor plan. I planned on offering air conditioning as an option as our upstate NY climate doesn’t call for it that much, especially when insulated this good. However, the price for a full blown central air system is pretty high for what amount of usage it would probably get. I’m also not too keen on attic located AC in this area.
25 years ago, I lived in a 2 bedroom apartment for a while with a thru the wall unit that seemed to keep things plenty cool enough, although a little loud. I’m thinking that there might be some quieter, more efficient units out there that maybe are a little better sealed from air infiltration. Any input appreciated.
Also, while I’m in the energy forum, how about any comments on the newer Bio-foam insulation, with a soybean base.
Thanks, Bish
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check out on ebay... ductless ac units... they are a cross between central & window units... for what you need maybe a 1 ton unit... think they are around $800 cost... simple install... i've used a few and I'm pretty impressed... one of the guys on ebay selling them is in NY...
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Pony,
Thanks for the reply, I'll check into them more. They were actually my other thought, although I've never used any before. Might have a more efficient unit also, and no large wall penetration.Bish
Only a small portion of the bio-based foam is bio-based. Half of the two part mix is straight petroleum bsed and the other half is only partly bio-based. The soy beans that are used consume hydrocarbons to cultivate, fertilize, harvest, and process. The environmental benefit is not what you might imagine and for that small benefit, you get a product that is not as durable. My cynical side believes it to be a classic case of greenwashing. I'd love to be proven wrong about this.
Ray,
Thanks for the reply. I do understand it is only a partial mix and agree that there certainly is energy usage in producing the soy part of product, but in all fairness, how does that balance out against the energy usage gating crude oil out of the ground, moved to the refinery, processed, moved again to manufacturer, etc. etc.
Not argueing your point, just thinking out loud {Typing, that is}. Bish
Cost of extracting and refining the oil and natural gas is also a part of using it to grow soybeans. After refining with it's related costs, then we decide if we want to use it for spray foam or for farming something that will be used for spray foam.
When I mentioned fertilizing, I was referring to the fact that most nitrogen fertilizer is extracted from natural gas. Applying the fertilizer is just a small part of the energy required to fertilize a crop.
I didn't mention the problem that is often ignored in the feel good switch to bio-based products. We don't have an inexhaustable supply of arable land. Take for example, corn grown for ethanol. It recently became possible to actually get more energy from the ethanol than it took to make the ethanol in the first place. The amount of land devoted to growing corn for fuel will doubtless reduce the amount of land devoted to food production and drive up the cost of food. Good for agribusiness, bad for us. It's the law of unintended consequences. This is, for now, not a huge issue, but it will be.
Greenwashing is being used to promote many products that are far from sustainable. Bio-based foam is probably not the worst example of this. Niether is it an environmental free lunch. The durability of a building product often outweighs the initial environmental impact in importance.
Look at panasonic. I've had their largest thru the wall unit (that runs on 110 volts) for three years.
Very happy with it. Quieter then most, has a remote that can change every setting, and it does the first floor of my cape by itself. I do use a small floor fan to help with the circulation.
Buic
Go with a split system, rather than a thru the wall unit.
Installation is much easier.
It can be installed high so the conditioned air falls into the room rather than blowing on everything at a 30" height.
You won't have a AC unit protruding from the house for all your guests to see.
Framkie
from Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas