Most of us turn to air conditioning units for cool comfort when the weather gets hot. But have you realized that this comfort can come at a cost to the environment?
Traditional HVAC systems consume large amounts of electricity and emit carbon dioxide to the environment for every kilowatt-hour.
Replacing such devices with a solar mini split unit can help you cut your power bills and conserve the environment.
My Overall #1 Rated Pick
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
We have done the legwork and selected a few top picks that will keep your home’s temperatures comfortable and the impact on the environment low.
Best Solar Mini Split
1. Air-Con 24000 Btu Mini Split DC Inverter Air Conditioner Heat Pump System – Best Powerful Option
2. Pioneer 12000 BTU Mini Split AC with Heat Pump – Best Overall Option
3. YMGI Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner – Best SEER Rating Option
3 Best Solar Mini Split – Reviews
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24000 Btu 21 SEER Ductless Mini Split DC Inverter... | See Latest Price | |
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Pioneer Air Conditioner WYS012G-20 Wall Mount... | See Latest Price |
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Air-Con 24000 Btu Mini Split DC Inverter Air Conditioner Heat Pump System
- 21 SEER Variable Speed DC Inverter Compressor 208-230V; Heating and Cooling Ductless Mini Split System
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Here is a mini-split with a whopping 24000 BTU of power and a SEER rating of 21. This is enough power to cool down up to 1500 square feet of space without leaving any noticeable carbon footprint on the environment.
This energy efficient air conditioner and heat pump sustain significant energy savings with its low voltage start-up feature and intelligent defrost, heating, and air conditioning capabilities.
The outdoor unit has a compact design that allows for ground installation or mounting in various discreet locations, including under a deck or on a wall.
With this unit, you get four operating modes for heating, cooling, dehumidification, and ventilation – all in one. In addition, you get an independent dehumidifying option with this air conditioner.
It offers seven indoor fan speeds. You can enjoy a cool breeze on a hot summer afternoon and then turn the fan down to a silent whir when you’ve had enough of the indoor breeze.
The indoor unit has an LED display allowing you to monitor the temperature from the comfort of your seat. To change the settings, you just need to punch the buttons on your remote control so you don’t have to move an inch.
You also get the option to monitor and control your mini-split unit from anywhere in the world with an internet app.
The compressor uses a variable-speed inverter DC inverter, which improves the efficiency of the system.
Pros
- Sleep mode function allows for a whisper-quiet operation
- Has multi-fan speeds and intelligent pre-heating technology
- Auto functions for restarting, cleaning, defrosting
- Corrosion-resistant cabinet
- Low ambient heating (-4°f) and cooling (5°f)
Cons
- Installation can be time-consuming
2. Pioneer 12000 BTU Mini Split AC with Heat Pump
- Save money all year-round with a highly efficient ductless mini split inverter+ heat pump system
- Ultra-silent and beautifully built perfect for home or light commercial use
- Comes with every needed component in the box, including an easy-install 16ft copper piping kit
- Cooling capacity: 12, 000 BTU/H with 17.5 SEER efficiency || Heating capacity: 11, 800 BTU/H with 9.0 hspf efficiency
- Free tech support and a 5 year coverage on the compressor
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This Mini split heat pump from Pioneer packs a 12000-BTU cooling and heating power, which makes it ideal for an area of about 400 square feet.
It features automatic temperature detection that will change the fan speed accordingly. Further, its night mode will adjust the temperature as per your body’s heat level to give you comfortable sleep during the night.
If you are a fan of DIY installations, this device is for you. It comes with every component you need to make the installation a breeze.
And, the instructions are straightforward so that they are easy to understand, which simplifies your installation task. A SEER rating of 19 makes this AC-heat pump combo one of the most environmentally friendly of all.
The pioneer mini split heat pump boasts an HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) of 10, earning it the ENERGY STAR label. This is the highest level of efficiency a heating appliance can have.
Although you’ll pay more money upfront to acquire and install this device, it pays for itself with its year-round value and energy-saving features. Its efficiency aspect makes it highly cost-effective in the long run.
We also love how ultra-silent the air conditioning equipment is. It has a multispeed fan motor and whisper-quiet technology that means you can comfortably use it to regulate your bedroom temperatures, and it will not disturb your sleep.
Pros
- Reasonable price considering the advanced features
- Offers worldwide remote access and control via the internet
- ETL tested and certified
- It has Permanent washable air filters
- Complete heating, cooling, ventilation, and dehumidification system.
Cons
- Installation requires careful attention to the instructions attached to the unit.
3. YMGI Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner
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The 56 series YMGI solar mini-split is a revolutionary unit. It fulfills all the heating and cooling demands of everyday life while remaining energy efficient with a SEER rating of up to 32 on solar energy.
Given its superior energy efficiency, this is the best solar mini split AC device to buy if you want an eco-friendly operation. It will significantly cut your energy bills and keep your costs at an all-time low.
The ductless air conditioner is packed with handy features, including a 1.5 ton capacity for heating, cooling, and dehumidification.
Upon your purchase, you get four main components: the outdoor unit, the indoor unit, a remote controller, and a solar panel.
It comes pre-charged with an eco-friendly refrigerant that has zero impact on the ozone layer. The revolutionary quiet climate control technology also helps ensure minimal impact on the environment.
The appliance has an auto-restart feature. In case of a power outage, it will automatically restart when power is restored with the same settings as before it went off.
The quiet operation is another add. It will keep your room cool and comfortable without disturbing your meditation or sleep.
Your purchase comes with 25-feet lines that include premium quality copper tubing and communication wire for installation.
Pros
- 5-years warranty on compressor and 1-year on other parts.
- Available in different sizes to suit various needs.
- The device has Self-diagnosis and Auto-Protection functions.
Cons
- The hybrid unit has no battery pack, so it still requires hookup to a 220-volt power supply when the sun is down.
- You require a licensed contractor to install it.
Why Solar Mini Split Units are Advantageous Over Standard HVAC Systems
Mini-splits, also called ductless air conditioners, offer countless benefits. For starters, they circulate air throughout your home without requiring any ductwork – hence the term “ductless” in their name.
1. Solar mini-splits are cost-effective
A solar mini split air conditioner will cost you about half as much as a central air unit on average.
If your home has no existing ductwork, installing central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system brings with it the cost of ductwork and labor.
The project also requires wall remodeling, fixture replacement, wallpapering, painting, and refinishing following a central HVAC installation.
In comparison, a ductless air conditioner will only require a small hole bored into an exterior wall.
A mini-split offers the advantage of zonal cooling and heating. You only switch on an inside unit in an occupied room. This can significantly reduce operating costs by cutting wastage.
For a solar-powered appliance, you can operate completely off-grid – getting all your air conditioning energy from the sun. This kind of arrangement means that air conditioning won’t inflate your energy bills.
2. Mini-splits are energy efficient.
At this time that we are increasingly getting conscious of how our activities impact the environment, energy efficiency is something to apprize. And solar mini splits come in handy in that regard.
Because a ductless system does not experience energy losses to the environment, its ecological impact is negligible.
Standard HVAC systems can lose about 30 percent of their energy through leaky ducts. Not to mention that they emit lots of carbon dioxide into the environment.
A ductless system does not leave any carbon footprint and uses a 100 percent eco-friendly and non-ozone-depleting type of refrigerant.
3. Ductless systems are minimally invasive.
A mini-split AC requires only a tiny hole drilled into the wall for its installation. This is as opposed to a standard HVAC system that will require ductwork at the expense of your home’s architectural value.
Disadvantages of Solar Mini Splits
Running on solar energy means that you are out of luck when the sun is down. Of course, battery storage comes in as an ideal workaround.
Still, battery storage is often inadequate for all-night cooling despite many improvements.
Other Posts: Top Best Mini split AC for Grow Room
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How is a hybrid solar air conditioner different from a standard heat pump?
A hybrid solar air conditioner unit can operate in two modes. It can run off an inverter when there is no sunshine as a hybrid DC unit and operate as a direct DC system when the sun is shining.
In cases where the solar panels are dedicated to cooling only, their array does not need to be connected to the local utility’s grid power.
2. How many solar panels do I need to run a mini-split air conditioner?
For a studio apartment, small home, or recreational vehicle, about three to five 320-watt panels should get you by.
You’ll just need to go for a unit with as high a SEER rating as possible. For example, a ductless AC with a SEER rating between 18 and 27.5 can operate with less than 1,000 watts and cool 750 square feet of space.
The SEER rating is the measure of how your pump performs with regard to energy consumption. The idea behind a high SEER rating is to find an extremely good performance.
In the HVAC world, this performance is measured as Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The ratio measures the cooling output of a unit divided by its energy consumption in watt-hours over a particular season. So what is the ideal seer rating?
An appliance with a 24 SEER produces about 24 BTUs for every watt of power. It will only need a corresponding inverter, such as a 750-watt inverter, to run it.
