Aircon season is upon us
Summer is in full swing, and as the temperatures soar, so do the electricity bills! With the sun mercilessly cranking up the heat, fans and air conditioners are working overtime just to keep things bearable. As air conditioning becomes a must-have these days, the toll on your monthly bills can leave you feeling like you're paying to cool down, only to sweat over the costs later. So, for those who are looking to make a long-term investment in keeping your home cool yet your electricity bills low, let us show you how mineral wool can help you save in the long run.
The science of keeping your house cool
In tropical environments like the Philippines, there are two key considerations in keeping your houses cool: Ventilation (letting cool air in) and Insulation (keeping the hot temperatures out). For this example, we are going to focus on insulation.
Heat makes its way into your home by seeping through walls, windows, and the roof. Each material slows heat transfer based on its R-value, which measures its insulating ability. A higher R-value helps keep heat in or out, depending on your needs. This value depends on thickness and thermal conductivity: thicker materials provide better insulation with higher R-values, while highly conductive materials have lower R-values, making them less effective at blocking heat. So to maximize insulation, you’ll need to choose thick materials that don’t conduct heat well. This is why rooms with thick concrete walls stay cooler for longer, because the material is dense and doesn’t let heat pass through easily. On the other hand, rooms under G.I. sheet roofs heat up quickly because the thin metal conducts heat fast, making any room feel like an oven.
How insulation translates to savings: quick maths
So, how does all this lower your electricity bill? Remember, the higher the R-value, the better the material is at stopping heat from passing through. To figure out how much heat gets through, we use the U-value, which is just the inverse of the R-value. A lower U-value means the material is doing a great job of keeping the heat out. If you want to know how much energy you need to cool a space, you multiply the U-value by the area of the surface protecting you from heat (like your roof) and by how much cooler you want the temperature to be inside versus the outside (Delta T).
Plugging in these values to the cooling load formula,This tells you how much cooling power is needed in kilowatts (kW). Air conditioners use electrical energy and convert it into cooling power. Most HVAC systems can convert electricity to cooling power at a factor of 3.5 to 5, meaning that for every 1 kW of electricity they use, they provide 3.5 to 5 kW of cooling to keep your space comfortable. This tells you how much electricity your air conditioner will use to reach your desired temperature, which also tells you how much it will show up on your bill.
Comparative Analysis
Now that we have all the details, let's break down how much electricity it takes to cool a room to a comfortable temperature. We'll compare three scenarios: a room without insulation, a room with typical foam insulation, and a room with mineral wool insulation.
Our quick calculations show some key takeaways:
- A room with mineral wool insulation can cost up to 50% less to keep cool compared to a room using PE foam insulation
- A room with mineral wool insulation can cost up to 75% less to keep cool compared to a room using no insulation
These numbers are based on ideal conditions, but real-life factors like ventilation and heat from appliances will affect how much energy your space actually uses and how well it stays cool. To get the best results, it's always a good idea to consult an expert who can assess your home and help you figure out how much insulation can really save you.
Get a consultation from us!
At KITCI, our dedicated team creates cost-effective solutions tailored to your needs. We help you find and source the right materials, ensuring your building and insulation requirements are met with high-quality, certified products. With our trusted service and expertise, you can count on reliable solutions that work for you.
Curious about how insulation can benefit your home or project? Let’s chat and find the perfect solution for you!
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