Panama. The Panamanian Association of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (Apayre) criticized the measures taken by the local government in terms of strategies to save energy during the stage of energy recession presented the previous week (ver nota).
Apayre highlights that the government has not taken into account the specialized entities to take the measures that were executed in terms of the non-use of air conditioning systems in educational centers and the restricted use in the public sector and in commercial or industrial companies.
"It is worrying that the government took serious measures without the participation of the country's professional unions, who due to their training have relevance in the savings measures to be taken. Among these we highlight the SPIA, the CIEMI, the IEEE Panama Chapter, the ASHRAE Panama and our guild, with extensive knowledge and experience in air conditioning, electricity and refrigeration, which would have helped in the management of these regions that represent approximately 60% of the national energy consumption. "
Another aspect that Apayre highlights is the inconsistency in the recommendations published on the website of the National Secretary of Energy (SNE), in which it indicates that in the measures for energy saving it is recommended "Regulate the thermostat of the air conditioning at 23ºC, lower increases consumption, but not comfort." Then point six on how to save energy points out that "air conditioning in the tomorrow pre-cool your home or office, turning off the AC at noon and closing the windows or curtains to avoid loss of cold. If this doesn't work, try to keep the air at 23 degrees Celsius constantly."
Faced with the above, the association considers that "the temperature recommended by the SNE is higher than that required by the Air Conditioning and Ventilation Regulation (RAV), which states in its Article 3.2.2 "(a) that "the Interior Temperature of Dry Bulb design will be 24 ° C (75 ° F)", given that the energy expenditure of an equipment to cool the air depends on the temperature differential between the outside environment and the conditioned environment; recommending a temperature in that environment lower than that required by the RAV, does not imply a saving but a greater energy expenditure".
