Should Solar Panels be compulsory for new Air Conditioners?
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As Australia endures another week of sky high temperatures, Service Central's air conditioning companies are busy installing new air conditioner after new air conditioner. These new air conditioners will be putting additional strain on Australia's electricity grid. Could making new Solar Panels compulsory for new Air Conditioners be the solution?
At Service Central we love helping Australian households cool down on a hot day. Our air conditioning specialists are eager to help you install a new air conditioner, or repair air conditioners that aren't working to their full capacity. However, on hot days, Australian household electricity peak usage is a massive 45% more than the average peak.
Add to this the fact that we seem to be having more and more hot summer days in Australia, especially scorching hot days over 40 degrees. You can't help wonder whether this is really the effect of Global Warming.
If so, are we creating a vicious cycle whereby the more we use Air Conditioners, the more we need electricity, and that with a large proportion of Australia's electricity still coming from burning coal, we consequently pump more pollution into the atmosphere which speeds up Global Warming and ....... more hot days and ..... more air conditioning.
So is there any easy way to end this downward spiral? The idea of turning off the air conditioner is simply not cool (excuse the pun). So could making the installation of Solar Panels compulsory with the purchase of new air conditioners be a viable option?
The theory is that this would reduce the demand on coal powered electricity producers during peak demand, as air conditioners are most likely to be used when the sun is out and solar panels are producing their most effectively.
I'm happy to be proven wrong. I'm happy for people to point out that this might not work where people live in apartments and cannot easily install solar panels, or similarly it might be an issue for strata title properties, commercial properties or even rental properties. However, I'd love to see your opinion on whether there can be an initiative that ties together new air conditioners with the installation of solar panels.
Please add your comments below.
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Nice thinking
over a year ago by Joe -
I don't think your idea goes far enough. What about heating too? Shouldn't this also be covered by solar panels? I think ALL new buildings (whether residential including apartment blocks or commercial) should have solar panels installed as standard. Further any rennovations/alterations to existing buildings that include changes to the roof should also be mandated to install solar panels. If fire orders can be made retrospectively on existing buildings why can't solar panels be part of rennovation requirements?
over a year ago by Karen -
It's a problem for all of us so it should apply to all, not only new houses. The main issue should not be disruptions to the grid, but more about the environment.
over a year ago by George -
Yep I broadly agree though You could also have the same argument for wall insulation or double glazing. We installed both last year and now our brick veneer house resists the heat and stays cool for most of the day (when it's hot) only needing a little aircon on the late on in the day to keep the place comfortable. We also have a few panels too so our overall drain on the grid is now v low.. Compared to a couple of years ago.
over a year ago by Russell -
From Tracey in Wantirna via Email:
over a year ago by Danial
How can you possibly produce enough electricity to offset this electricity usage when solar panels loses efficiency on hot days over 25 degrees?
Change the law to make solar a 1:1 feed in tariff. The regulations making the current 8 cents feed in stopped people from buying solar. Upgrade the network to allow for these solar surges on sunny days, change the feed-in tariff to 1:1 and people will voluntarily buy large solar systems again. The current repay rate for a solar system takes too long at 8 cents. Fix regulations.
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