Condensing+Unit+Placement


 * **TASK STATUS REPORT** ||
 * **Project Description:** |||||||| To determine where would be the best location to place the condensing unit so that it will use the least amount of energy and be most cost efficient. ||
 * **Project Sponsor:** |||| Habitat For Humanity || Sponsor Rep: ||  ||
 * **Program Manager:** |||| Rich Wells || **Project Manager:** Ethan Lilly ||  ||
 * **Period covered by the report:** |||||| November 15 - November 30 ||
 * **Accomplished This Period:** ||
 * * I determined that it is best to put the unit outside because it is quieter, easier air flow, easy access for maintenance and if place on the north side it will mostly be in the shade.
 * This is a good site: [|click here] ||
 * **Planned But Not Accomplished This Period:** ||
 * * I still need to determine what was done in the past. ||
 * **Objectives To Next Reporting Period:** ||
 * # I will determine what has been done in the past. ||
 * **Risks/Outstanding Issues/Problems:** ||
 * * I need to make sure that whatever I decided works best is what will be the one that is most cost efficient for the home owner. ||



Condensing Unit Placement Report

The purpose of this task is to determine the the most energy efficient place to put the air conditioning unit, either in the attic or outside. This task is important because it could potentially save the homeowner a lot of money in energy savings if the cost of operation goes down just by simply placing the condensing unit in a different location. This could benefit Habitat for Humanity by possibly lowering the energy star rating of the homes that they build by having a more energy efficient cooling system.

The question that was answered in this task was where exactly is the most energy efficient place to put the air conditioning unit, inside or out. Not only is energy efficiency a problem to consider but also the noise level. Air conditioning units can be very loud, especially if place indoors, and they should be placed so that you or your neighbors wont be bothered by the noise. The side of the house should also be considered so that it is in the shade for the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to place it so that there are no nearby objects that might constrict the airflow in any way and cause the unit to work harder than it should. The duct work also plays a key role in the efficiency of the unit but that does not seem to be in the scope of this report. It is also a good idea, although not necessary, to put the air conditioning unit on a concrete slab that is connected to the foundation of your home so that they do not shift at different rates and put stress on any of the refrigerant lines.

After doing a lot of online research, I have yet to find a clear cut answer as to whether or not outdoor is better than indoor, other than the fact that for every single example that I have found of an indoor unit there seems to be some kind of problem that goes along with it, such as too much noise, or extremely hard to access for repairs. It seems to me that the best option is to place the unit outside and to make sure that these guidelines are followed for optimum energy savings. Make sure that it isn't right next to a window on your house or near a neighbors window so that the noise from the unit won't be a problem. Next, make sure that there are no objects within 2 feet of the vents so that there is plenty of room for air flow. The best place to put the unit is on the north side of the house so because that is where it will receive the most shade throughout the day. Keeping the unit in the shade can reduce your air conditioner costs by 1% to 2%. Like I said earlier, if it is convenient and not too expensive, try to have the air conditioning unit installed on a cement slab that is connected to the foundation of the home so that they shift at the same rate.

Something that might be considered for the future is maybe some type of experiment to better determine whether or not it is more efficient to have the unit in the attic or outside. Another thing that could be done is that research could be done on the old builds that have already taken place to see which ones have outdoor units and which ones have indoor units and which seem to be performing better.

In conclusion, there is still some work to be done to be completely sure on which is more efficient but so far all of my research has led me to believe that outdoors is the best option when it comes to condensing units. Looking at what has been done in the best and what seems to have worked best is probably the best option.


 * 1) //Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy//, U.S. Department of Energy, web site: http://www.eere.energy.gov/ Dec. 15, 2010
 * 2) //Air Conditioning Unit Placement//, HVAC Center, web site: http://www.hvac-center.com/ Dec. 15, 2010