Development of Air Conditioner Selecting Support Tool

Part 1-Construction of the Prototype and Calculations of the Energy-saving Potential

Abstract

We examined the conventional method for air conditioners selection and accompanying issues to propose a new selection method to save energy. The following issues were identified: Cooling and heating load values are determined based upon the tatami-number guidelines (based upon how many tatami mats will fit in a room). These guidelines have not been revised since 1964 and thus are not applicable to modern homes. In fact, the tatami-number guidelines cannot be applied to various types of homes and lifestyles. To address these issues, we propose a tool for air conditioner selection in which the consumer provides the following information: (i) characteristics of the home, (ii) lifestyle, and (iii) preference rate. An air conditioner can then be chosen that accommodates various requirements. A prototype of the tool was prepared, and the power consumption was compared with that of a unit that was chosen by using the tatami-number guidelines. The estimation results showed that our prototype achieved a higher level of energy conservation.