Posts Tagged ‘cars’

Air Con Is ‘Most Wanted’ In-Car Feature

Friday, August 27th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

According to a recent survey, air conditioning is the in-car feature topping the most-wanted list of motorists around the UK, despite the country’s unreliable climate.

The figures emanate from a report put together by ExchangeandMart.co.uk and suggests that a mammoth 81% of people class air-con as essential and would name it as a decisive factor when purchasing a new car.  

In contrast, 67% said a TV or DVD player for passengers isn’t important at all and 58% say the same about sub woofers.

Commenting on the poll, Michael Tang, Marketing Communications Manager at Exchange and Mart, said: “Our survey shows that motorists value practical features the most. When we asked respondents to name the essential items, air conditioning was the clear winner with 81% agreeing, followed by alarms and immobilisers with 68%. In contrast, TV/DVD players and sub woofers were only crucial to 9%.”

In Europe, air conditioning in vehicles is exhibiting the biggest growth, over the last 10 years going from close to zero to a 95 per cent prevalence. Does that mean the other 5% are left pointing fans at themselves or other types of portable air conditioning?

A/C does, of course, slightly add to fuel consumption though having the windows open would also increase wind resistance which can add up to 10% to your fuel consumption, especially at speed.

For an air conditioning service for your car, office or home, contact Airconco today.

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Posted in Air Conditioning, car air conditioning, Surveys | No Comments »

3 Ways to Keep Your Car Cool Without Air Conditioning

Thursday, June 24th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Every driver has experienced the ‘car oven’ phenomenon. You set off to work on a warm day only to realise that your low-end car lacks air conditioning. Next time you find yourself caught out in an ageing or low-cost automobile, don’t despair. Now, off course we’re total buffs when it comes to air conditioning but although it’s mightily important on a grand scale, it isn’t actually the be-all and end-all. These three tactics can help you keep the car cool, crisp, and comfortable for your commute or long distance journey.

1. Crack your windows, and crank up the fan Inside the New Car by Chris Campbell.

Fan systems are most effective when combined with a source of fresh, cool air. For most car owners, that means a slightly opened window. Don’t open it all the way if it’s warm outside – just crack the window and let a small amount of fresh air enter the car.

2. Store ice in the car

Unfortunately, it’s not quite as easy as popping down to the supermarket and dumping ice cubes in the car. By storing a container full of ice next to your car’s ventilation system, you’ll be able to cool and humidify the air without worrying about excess gas usage. This old-fashioned air conditioning method was popular in Arizona in the mid 20th century.

3. Apply window tints

Tinted windows don’t actively cool your car, but they do cut down on the amount of sunlight that can enter. By decreasing the transparency of your windows, you’ll let less light enter the car and quickly lower the overall temperature. Be careful – some country’s ban tinted windows, or apply limits to the transparency level of the glass.

And no air conditioning maintenance costs going forward…

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Cool Stuff, Tips | 1 Comment »

Toyota’s New Solar Air Conditioned Prius

Friday, March 26th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

Fans of green technology and cool air are in for a surprise when they look inside Toyota’s new 2010 Prius. The new hybrid car comes equipped with a full solar power panel for its air conditioning and in-car entertainment system. In a move towards total green energy, Toyota have stripped away the standard power-hungry air conditioner and replaced it with one that’s closer to a solar cooling system than the gas-sucking system most people know.

It’s said that in most cars, just 15% of used gasoline makes it to the wheels. This alarming statistic is, in most cases, quite true. Air conditioning services, entertainment systems, engine control computers and lights each require a large amount of energy, most of which is generated through burning gasoline. 2010 Toyota Prius by alex4981.

Toyota certainly aren’t the first company to embrace solar air conditioning, although they are the first auto manufacturer to use the technology. A number of office buildings have made use of solar energy for their cool air systems, including the American Apparel factory and management building in Los Angeles.

‘Green conscience’ affects thousands of consumers annually, a spending trend backed up by strong sales of hybrid cars and power-saving equipment. Home air conditioners have been optimized to the point of impressive energy efficiency, however many automobile systems still lag behind in energy usage. While Toyota’s solution certainly doesn’t cut down on all energy usage, it’s a clear step in the right direction.

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Does in-car air conditioning consume fuel? If so, how much?

Thursday, February 25th, 2010, by Richard Salmon

It’s considered a bit of a myth by some, but it is in fact true.

Having windows open can cost you fuel, which pretty much everyone knows by now – but so can air conditioning, which can increase fuel consumption by 8-10%.

If it comes to decision of air con vs open window, it is more economical to open your windows up to speeds of around 55mph as running the a/c at low engine speed creates extra stress and demand resulting in increased fuel consumption. Above 55mph, it’s better to run the air con as opposed to the extra drag caused by open windows.

Every accessory that you use, even the rear screen demister or the radio drains power from the battery, which is charged by the fuel in your engine. Try to only use accessories for the minimum amount of time that you need.

Don’t forget that your car’s air con should be run for at least five minutes every fortnight (even if it’s not needed) to keep the system lubricated and free of leaks, also ensure you use an air conditioning maintenance company to carry out your air conditioning service.

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