This is likely going to be the answer, yeah, but I believe we need to see some improvements in installability for the average person - a window AC unit does afaik not require a specialist to install, while a mini split, while possible to tackle for a handy person, is a lot harder, leaving the average person to have to pay for someone to install the unit.
Window ACs are not the best from an efficiency perspective, but they do beat portable units by a large margin.
EDIT: looks like it might actually not even be legal in the EU to install a mini split yourself - you need to be certified to handle the refrigerants.
Installation is also more than 50% of the total cost of acquisition, so we’re hitting upon an affordability issue here as well.
Yeah that’s a good point about affordability. I guess I’d hope for government subsidies or at least supply & demand market forces to address that before it becomes an essential thing, especially if they replace gas boilers too as a move to reduce carbon emissions.
In the world of theoretical wild policies, there’s a really good argument for subsidizing heat pump installation for places heating with fossil fuels or direct electricity at more than 100% of the cost of installation. I’d love to see that kind of project. One can mostly just dream, though.
This is likely going to be the answer, yeah, but I believe we need to see some improvements in installability for the average person - a window AC unit does afaik not require a specialist to install, while a mini split, while possible to tackle for a handy person, is a lot harder, leaving the average person to have to pay for someone to install the unit.
Window ACs are not the best from an efficiency perspective, but they do beat portable units by a large margin.
EDIT: looks like it might actually not even be legal in the EU to install a mini split yourself - you need to be certified to handle the refrigerants.
Installation is also more than 50% of the total cost of acquisition, so we’re hitting upon an affordability issue here as well.
I’ve just been looking into this in the UK (so Europe, but not EU).
You can now get split units that come pre-filled with a safer refrigerants that a DIYer is allowed to do themselves.
I would still get an electrician to do the electrical side though. 1KW constant load should definitely be on its own circuit.
Yeah that’s a good point about affordability. I guess I’d hope for government subsidies or at least supply & demand market forces to address that before it becomes an essential thing, especially if they replace gas boilers too as a move to reduce carbon emissions.
In the world of theoretical wild policies, there’s a really good argument for subsidizing heat pump installation for places heating with fossil fuels or direct electricity at more than 100% of the cost of installation. I’d love to see that kind of project. One can mostly just dream, though.