Latest news with #aircon
The Sun
21-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Drivers are forgetting to turn off ‘hidden' button in car that ‘could make you drowsy' while sat in traffic
DRIVERS risk their health as they forget to turn off an overlooked button in their car. The hidden button can make you drowsy which could lead to accidents. 1 With temperatures rising outside, you might be blasting your car's air con. However, watch out for one air con setting which could cause sleepiness on the road. Look for a button marked with a little arrow pointing back on itself, often accompanied by a car symbol. Recirculate air This "recirculate air" button is designed to cool down your vehicle's interior even when the air con is off. Rather than drawing in hot air from outside, this button recirculates the air already inside the car. The button can be useful if you're stuck in traffic behind a car spewing out fumes. Since it doesn't draw air from outside, you can avoid unpleasant smells, dust and other pollutants. You also won't overwork your AC to continuously cool down hot air from outside which could save you money. Health risks However, the "recirculate air" button is not meant to be used for longer than 20 minutes, according to one study. Although it helps to save on fuel and cools down your motor faster, it could also cause drowsiness, fatigue and headaches. All UK car dealerships will STOP selling 10,000s of iconic brand's used models impacted by lethal airbag flaw When left turned on for an extended period, the "recirculate air" will increase carbon dioxide levels in your vehicle. As CO2 from your breath builds up in your car, there will be less oxygen for the air con to circulate. This could make drivers lose concentration and impair their reaction times. To maintain CO2 concentrations below 2500 ppm for longer commutes or when driving with several passengers, RC ventilation should be periodically turned off. Dr Christabel Akinola has warned drivers about the dangers of the button on her Instagram account. In a post, she wrote: "This is one of the reasons drivers fall asleep and don't know why or how, leading to accidents. "Please, before you ride in any car and during the trip, make sure you check the dashboard to ensure it's turned off, especially if you have kids."
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Overlooked car button that no one ever uses will cool down your cabin WITHOUT any air con – and it saves on fuel
AS the soaring temperatures continue, you may find yourself blasting your car's air con. However, an overlooked button on your dashboard can help to instantly cool your vehicle without even turning on your AC. 2 This simple hack could prove to be your summertime saviour as the scorching heatwave continues. While it may be tempting to reach for your car's air conditioning dial, another feature can be just as effective without costing you as much money to run. Look for a button marked with a little arrow pointing back on itself, often accompanied by a car symbol. Recirculate air This "recirculate air" button is designed to cool down your vehicle's interior even when the air con is off. Rather than drawing in hot air from outside, this button recirculates the air already inside the car. By cutting off the hot air outside, it helps to cool the cabin as quickly as possible. This is an ideal technique when the air outside the car is hotter than the air inside. If you want to ensure this is the case, blow the air con for a couple of minutes and then hit the recirculate button. Or you could even avoid the air con altogether, helping to save on fuel. How it works "No more waiting for the air conditioning to kick in – the air recirculation button has your back," a spokesman for UK Car Discount told the Express. World's favourite car Tesla rebooted According to the pro, this helps in "ensuring you experience a swift and soothing transition from the outside heat". "It works by recirculating the cool air you get from your A/C when you first turn it on," the expert explained. "The longer it's on for, the cooler your vehicle will get! If you don't use it, the car will use the air from the outside that is a lot warmer, and your AC will work harder and continuously to cool the hot air.' And while the temperature continues to rise, so do fuel prices, making this a handy hack to have in your back pocket. There are other tricks you can use to cool down your car's interior this summer. How to keep cool in a heatwave Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS... Keep out of the heat if you can. If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter. Cool yourself down. Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes. Keep your living space cool. Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep. More car hacks for hot weather The RAC agrees has offered another tip to drivers who are looking to save cash on hot days. 'Start driving, but keep the car windows open for a minute or two to let all the hot air escape, do this until the air from the vents feels cooler than the outside temperature," they said. "Once the air conditioning is blowing cold, close all the windows and switch to (pre-cooled) recirculated air." Or if you still prefer to use your car's AC, use this budget buy to elevate it further. And avoid keeping these six items in your car during the soaring summer temperatures. Another kitchen staple can also help to keep your car cool in a heatwave. Plus, how to look out for symptoms of your body overheating this summer. 2
Telegraph
22-06-2025
- Climate
- Telegraph
The truth about getting air con at home – and how much it costs
As the week-long heatwave looks set to continue, the rush for air con is on. A staggering 80pc of homes in the UK experience overheating each summer according to a recent study – and cracking a window or enlisting a desk fan no longer cuts it. The use of air con has risen seven-fold in the last decade, according to a paper published in Energy Research & Social Science this month. The full-time cooling units once dismissed as 'too American' are now becoming an increasingly common fixture in UK homes. 'Hybrid working means that more people are spending time at home during the warmest hours of the day,' says Ben Gallizzi, the energy expert at 'and with temperatures soaring this week, many of us will be looking enviously at friends and family who have invested in air con units.' Gallizzi says that air con use has jumped by 90pc in the last two years due to record hot summers, with the Met Office this week warning that the prospect of temperatures exceeding 40°C have become 20 times more likely than in the 1960s. ' If this continues,' says Gallizzi, 'the increase in air-conditioned homes likely will, too.' If you're thinking of joining the air con boom, which type should you pick? And how might your wallet – and the planet – be affected? Telegraph Money takes you through what you need to know: Should you get portable or fitted unit? For renters or those who want a quick, icy blast, free-standing portable air conditioners are likely the best bet. 'However, they will only cool the air in the room they're in and won't circulate it anywhere else in the house,' says Natalie Hitchins, of Which?. 'Due to condensation, water droplets collect, so you'll need to manually remove the water from the tank every so often and clean the filter at the same time.' Those wanting to go the whole hog will need to choose between getting HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) units mounted to the wall (known as wall-split air conditioners), or ceilings (called ceiling cassettes). Both are fitted with an indoor and external unit. HVACs circulate refrigerant through the units mounted indoors and fitted to the exterior of the property, which absorb the heat from the air inside, and then release it outdoors. They do not pump cold air into the home. How much does a unit cost? 'For a fitted unit, prices start at around £1,500,' explains Joe Stein, of AllStar Electrical & Air Conditioning, with costs rising to around £5,000, depending on the size of the room and sleekness of the unit (concealed ones demand a premium). What are the running costs of air con? The weekly running costs depend on a number of factors including unit size and power, and the ambient temperature of the room the unit is in, Stein says. 'It could be £1.50 per night [when used for eight hours at a time during the summer],' he adds. 'If you have taken the plunge with air conditioning, don't forget that it's easy to build up a hefty electricity bill,' Gallizzi advises. Portable air conditioning units typically use 1 kilowatt (kW) of power, which means they will cost 27p an hour in electricity. Built-in units, meanwhile, 'can be even more energy-intensive, with a 2.7kW unit costing you 73p an hour to run'. Gallizzi adds that power ratings of fitted units should always be checked prior to installation in order to understand what the running costs will be. 'If you're looking for a short-term fix during a heatwave, a desktop fan is far less energy-hungry – using less than 1p an hour – and can be bought for as little as £10.' How does it differ from a heat pump? Heat pumps can also cool rooms, and are thought to be more efficient than air conditioning. Air conditioners need to be paired with a furnace in order to heat as well as cool and, thus, typically involve higher running costs than pumps (though they are cheaper to install initially). In terms of environmental costs, Stein says that the A+++ rated HVACs are 'energy-efficient compared to the old AC units'. However, a policy brief from the University of Exeter last year was less optimistic, saying that continued mass take-up of cooling systems would continue to increase 'direct and indirect carbon emissions, creating new challenges within energy systems and leading to growing inequalities within society'. It is hoped that smart technology, such as phone apps that can remotely control home units and turn them off from wherever the homeowner is when they are not in use, can minimise excess emissions. Ditto a growing range of greener options, such as solar-powered units and the development of eco-friendlier refrigerants used within them. How noisy are they? 'Fixed air conditioners are quieter and usually more efficient than portable models,' Hitchins says. However, no modern model should be loud enough to disturb the neighbours. At worst, Stein adds – i.e. if the outdoor part of the unit is next to a neighbour's open window – 'it would be the same level as street noise'. Can I use air con to heat up my home in winter? Air con units needn't only be a summer saviour. They both cool and heat a room and typically reach the required temperature more quickly than radiators (which rely on boilers), meaning less energy is used in the process. There is also heat loss and wasted energy associated with sending heated water long distances through pipes, which may make air con more useful in winter, too. Is it too late to get air con this summer? No, units can typically be fitted in a matter of weeks, depending on your location and the size of the job. Contractors will typically carry out a site visit first (for a mounted unit) to assess the type of HVAC required, before returning a second time to get it fitted.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Climate
- The Sun
Hot weather appliances that are adding to your energy bills this summer – and the cheaper alternatives
SOME of your favourite hot weather appliances and gadgets could be guzzling through energy and seeing your bills shoot up this summer. Households are basking in glorious sunshine across the UK with some facing record-breaking temperatures for the second day running. A number of areas are expected to have passed the heatwave criteria this afternoon too, according to the Met Office. But while many of us rejoice at the idea of basking in the sun, plenty will be looking for ways to keep cool during the day and night. Some of those hot weather appliances designed to keep temperatures down can end up churning through energy though. USwitch has revealed just how much some of them could be costing you per hour. The full list is in the table above, but we've listed some of the most costly ones below. Aircon unit (built in) - £40 Air-con units are great at keeping you cool overnight, but are some of the most fuel-guzzling appliances out there. Under the current price cap, a 2,700 watt built in air con unit costs you a whopping 73p an hour to run. Used for just eight hours overnight that's £5.84, or £40.88 based on eight hours of use night over seven days. Aircon unit (portable) - £15 Portable aircon units work similarly to built in ones, except they are, as the name suggests, portable. They are generally cheaper to run than built in units, but still churn through your energy. Under the current price cap, a 1,000 watt unit costs around 27p to run per hour. How to cut energy costs and get help with FOUR key household bills Over eight hours that's £2.16, or £15.12 based on eight hours a night over seven days. Dehumidifier - £2.80 Dehumidifiers can keep you cool by sucking in moisture from the surrounding area - but be wary of the costs. A 12-litre size 185 watt unit will cost you around 5p an hour to run under the current price cap, according to Uswitch. That's 40p over eight hours or £2.80 based on eight hours of usage a day for a week. Air cooler cube - £1.28 Air cooler cubes work similarly to air conditioning units but are generally smaller and more portable. They're cheaper to run than their larger cousins as well, but leave one on for long enough and costs can still rack up. Uswitch said under the current price cap, a 75 watt model will set you back 2p an hour to run - 16p over an eight hours time period. Based on eight hours of usage a day over seven days, that's £1.28. Ceiling fan - £1.28 7 Ceiling fans work by pushing air downwards, accelerating the evaporation of sweat from your skin. But they're not exactly the cheapest appliances to run, especially if you're using them on the regular. A 75 watt model uses around 2p an hour to run, under the current price cap, or 16p over an eight hours time period. Stacked up over seven days and you'll be forking out £1.28. Desktop fan - 50p 7 There's nothing like the cool breeze from a desktop fan, but they'll eat through your energy. A 35 watt appliance costs 0.9p to run per hour, which is 7.2p over eight hours, and 50p stacked up over a week. Pedestal fan - 90p Pedestal fans, due to them being larger than desktop fans, are more costly to run per hour. Uswitch said a 60 watt model costs 1.62p to run an hour, which is 12.96p over eight hours and roughly 90p based on eight hours seven days a week. Cheaper ways to keep cool There are other effective ways to keep cool that cost absolutely nothing. Checkatrade insulation expert Lee West told The Sun earlier this week even the way you open windows can keep your home cooler. During the evening, he said, open windows on opposite sides of your property to create a cross-breeze. This so-called "night-flush ventilation" allows cooler air to circulate around your home and trapped heat inside to escape. Hanging already damp sheets in front of open windows or in the path of a fan can create a cooling effect too. Even placing your mattress directly on the floor instead of on a bed frame can keep you from overheating overnight as well. Staying safe in the sun While warmer weather can be fun, it is important to stay safe and avoid over heating - here are some other top tips to stay safe in the sun Wear clothes and sunglasses that provide sun protection The NHS website recommends wearing a hat that shades the face, neck and ears and breathable fabrics that do not let the sunlight through. Drink water Staying hydrated in the warmer weather is also important. Be sure to carry a water bottle with you if you are travelling and taking sips throughout the day. Use suncream According to the NHS webiste, adults should aim to apply around 6 to 8 teaspoons of sunscreen if you're covering your entire body. If sunscreen is applied too thinly, the amount of protection it gives is not as effective If you're worried you might not be applying enough SPF30, you could use a sunscreen with a higher SPF. .
Auto Car
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Car
Dacia's secrets to success: how it makes its cars so cheap
Adapting it for Duster duties cost a little more, mainly for the reinforced sills and ride height, but from there, for the extra-large Bigster, the only major change has been to extend the A-pillars by 50mm. Every kilogram is managed, too. The reason the Bigster doesn't offer a seven-seat interior is because Dacia worked out only 25% of buyers in the segment consider them but the added weight would require strengthening for the rear axle, which would add expense across the range. Ergo the Bigster is a five-seater only, being ruthlessly focused on the main audience. Which brings Le Vot to his second point: the importance of learning what the intended buyer really wants and then not straying beyond that kit level by so much as an additional USB-C port. 'We've been studying the Germans, I must confess,' he says, smirking. The Germans are the big market for cars like the Bigster. They're also fussy, which is crucial. If our German chums 'need' something in their C-SUV, you damn well better offer it. And if they don't, nobody else will want it and you're off the procurement hook. 'If the car doesn't have AC [air-con], then it's disqualified. But if I offer, whatever, electric seats for the front passenger or AC in the seats? No need: it's not disqualifying. So we have dual-zone AC [in the Bigster], which we've never had before, and we have two-tone paint and an electric tailgate. These are the things we will offer, and if we don't, they will say 'I'm not buying'. Hundreds of people. It's complicated; new territory for us.' The final part of the equation is the supplier negotiations, where Le Vot's sojourns in hard-nosed Russia has fortified his resolve. By all accounts, this charismatic Frenchman and his accomplices in accounts are utter bastards. Le Vot says: 'We define the car [at] €25k and the hybrid [at] €30k, then we split this price. It seems obvious, but most manufacturers don't do that. "They design the car they want to have, then give the parts to suppliers, negotiating like hell to get the best price, but the best price is a surprise. When you expect €100, you get €110 more often than €95.
