The sun provides free energy – use it to lower your air conditioning costs and reduce your home’s carbon footprint. With cooling making up nearly 16% of energy consumption in homes, it is an area where solar power can deliver significant savings, particularly in hot climates with long summer seasons.

solar ac  can be used in several ways to power air conditioning, including directly powering the unit with panels or combining solar and battery power to store energy to run the AC at night. Solar powered air conditioners are an option for both on-grid and off-grid homes, with the added benefit of a 26% federal tax credit for those who qualify.

A direct solar powered air conditioner connects directly to the 230V grid power supply and uses a dual MPPT tracker to harvest maximum energy from the sun. This system allows for greater efficiencies in heating and cooling (measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER) than standard ductless air conditioners, reducing electricity bills and environmental impact.

Efficiency Meets Ecology: The Benefits of Solar Air Conditioner Technology

Depending on the location of your home and the length of your summer season, you will need a solar panel system that generates enough electricity to power your air conditioner during peak sunlight hours. Most solar hybrid air conditioners come with between two and six solar panels to cover this power requirement, and you can also choose a battery for backup, so that excess energy produced by the solar panels can be stored for later use.