CITRIS researcher Stefano Schiavon, professor of architecture and civil and environmental engineering at UC Berkeley and associate director of the UC Berkeley Center for the Built Environment, spoke to Ayesha Rascoe on NPR’s Weekend Edition Sunday about air conditioning alternatives to limit energy use and save on electricity bills during the summer.
According to Schiavon, fans are key. At a moderately hot indoor temperature, ranging from 80–85 degrees F, a combination of fans and a higher AC temperature point can produce the same effect as AC alone, significantly reducing the amount of cooling energy needed without sacrificing user comfort. A pilot project led by Schiavon in Singapore, where the weather is hot and humid year-round, has found success in this method. Hybrid cooling with fans reduced energy use by one-third in test office buildings and received high participant satisfaction, showing promise for widespread integration.
Combating climate change will require a perspective shift away from cranking up the AC as the temperature climbs, says Schiavon, and a diversity of energy-saving methods can begin with individual households.