Last summer, those of us who went on holiday with their car used for the most part of them their air conditioner. But last summer global warming went in the « party », and everyone can ask himself whether or not to use air-conditioner in his car.
The debate is not ready to be finished between “pro” and “against” air conditioning in a car, and to be honest I find difficult to give an answer to this question…
It is true that the use of air conditioning has an effect on global warming:
- Increasing fuel consumption, resulting in greater emission of CO²
- Part of the use of cooling liquid that have an effect on global warming, even more important than CO²
And sometimes I hear that the air conditioner is not necessary in our temperate latitudes (north of Europe), so we can/must do without them, etc., etc.
Although I am not scientific, I think that to accuse air conditioning is a little bit too easy, and that if the problem is real, we tend to forget some points of common sense:
Climate: this notion of a temperate climate is only average, and it is common to have on the roads in south of France some temperatures in vehicles that exceeds 35 or 40 degrees (Celcius) during the summer (I am even having arrived more than 45 °C in the car while traveling on the highways). To avoid the use of air conditioner is possible, but we forget that heat and driving induces more fatigue, and because of this discomfort modifies behavior and may lead to drive faster. All this without counting the risk of dehydration caused by the heat, especially if you have passengers as babies, children or elderly. Note also that a bit of air conditioning in the winter is also useful for quickly remove the blurring from the car windows (it dries the air), and contributes to a better visibility thereby increasing safety.
The energy (fuel) consumption is for sure trigger of this war against air conditionners, as they increases fuel consumption because of the compressor that will require a bit of energy from the engine.
However, I note that driving on the road or highway without the air conditioner, but while opening car window also increases fuel consumption (openned windows affect the aerodynamics of the vehicle and contribute to slow it, so engine need more fuel to run at the same speed). Of course, this does not apply if car is running at reduced speed in the trafic jam…
The cooling liquid: it unfortunately contributes to global warming. Among them, there is a Tetrafluoroethane or 134a currently used in many vehicles. It replaces the former gas refrigerant R12, you know, one of these CFC, one of these gases at the origin of the hole in the ozone layer.
The situation is changing, and manufacturers are starting to develop fluids that have potential contribution to global warming less important (though still exists!).
But for now, most vehicles are, as I understand, yet equipped with air conditioning refrigerant operated with a high global warming potential. However, in many car air conditionners, a lubricant is added to cooling liquid to maintain joints, that have role precisely to prevent this cooling liquid to escape! From there it may be easy to conclude that an air conditioning which is not working pollutes more than an air conditioner that is used regularly, isn’t it ? Anyway, we may expect from industrials for new cooling liquids that do not have this global warming potential and do not pollutes… I hope this will be for soon !
So what solutions?
I believe that there is no miracle solution, except that if you buy a vehicle without air conditioning or if you prefer to drive a bike (why not ?), and all of this is finally not so obvious as that.
What I believe is that above all we must intelligently use its air conditioning, and responsibly. Here are some tips :
- First-ventilate his car a few minutes prior to the air conditionning, especially if the car parked under the sunlight, then use 10 or 15 minutes the air conditioner in « closed circuit »: it helps to decrease more rapidly the temperature of the car. After that, replace air-conditioner in normal mode (closed circuit should not be used for too long), and at a reasonable level of power.
- In order to avoid thermal shock, stop or at least reduce the air conditinner a bit before reaching destination
- There is no need to use its air conditioner all the time (for example, when the outside air is fresh: remember to push a little rather the air fan than using air conditinner), and especially not at max power (please, do not confuse your car with a freezer !)
- Power on sometimes your air conditionner even in winter to keep joints and prevent leakage of cooling liquid
- When the vehicle is stationary, use sun-visors: you will have less to solicit air-conditioner. Of course, it’s even better if you can park your car in the shade (under a tree !).
- If possible, buy a car equipped with an athermic windscreen, and an air conditionner more environment compliant
And then of course, to save fuel and reduce its emissions of CO ² in the atmosphere:
- Drive zen & cool
- Avoid unnecessary accessories…
- buy « green » tires (that lower your fuel consuption)
- Maintain regularly your vehicle (motor oil, tires…)
note : this post is partially an automatic translation of the news originally published on my french blog.
