Wind and solar power are growing rapidly as clean, green energy sources, and more and more homeowners, businesses, and institutions are realizing the benefits of storing energy rather than using it immediately. As these energy storage systems continue to drop in price and increase in efficiency, it’s no wonder why so many people are interested in adding one to their homes. The problem is that not all homes are suited for air energy storage because of their location or existing interior design plan. If you’re looking into adding an air energy storage system (AESS) to your home, it’s important to first consider what type of home you have before making any decisions. There are five distinct types of homes that are not compatible with an AESS:
1. Single Family Detached
This is the most popular type of home because it’s the most versatile. You can position the unit where you want it by drilling holes through the wall and connecting it to the outdoor unit via a tube. It’s perfect for those who want a quick and easy installation without having to worry about anything else
2. Multi-Family Detached
If you have more than one bedroom and you want to create a guest room, you can put the AESS where the bedrooms are and you won’t have to heat any of the other rooms. You will need to either put in some extra bedrooms or create a super-sized master bedroom in order to accommodate the unit. This is one of the most popular interior designs for an AESS because it allows for a lot of flexibility. You can store summer heat in the winter and vice versa, so it really is a win-win scenario.
3. Four Or Five Bedroom Townhouse
If you have a five-bedroom townhouse and you want to keep it very private, you can put one of these units in the attic and forget about it. It will stay there all year round because it doesn’t generate any heat and it doesn’t consume any hot water either. The downside is that this unit takes up a ton of room and it will be a huge project to move it once you decide you want to use it. One thing to consider is whether or not you want to leave the attic room the same size it is now or make it bigger in order to accommodate the unit.
4. Two-Family Duplex
If you have a two-family duplex and you want to install an AESS in either one of the upper floors, you can do so without having any impact on your day-to-day routine. The downside is that drilling holes in the ceiling and walls for these units is very difficult because you’ll either have to drill a ton of holes or find a way to conceal the wiring and tubes. In most cases, it’s easier to do it yourself without having someone else do it for you. If you have a professional stucco wall contractor in your area, have them do it for you instead of paying for someone else to do it.
5. Large Office Building
These types of office buildings are used for storing large amounts of compressed air because they have a lot of space and nobody wants to waste it. If you have an office building with twenty thousand square feet and you want to put in an AESS, you have a few options. You can put one in the floor or you can put one in the wall. The first option is generally cheaper, but the problem is that you’ll always have a ton of space next to you that isn’t being used. The other option is to put the unit in the wall and connect it to the air source via a tube. This is more expensive but it gives you the option of connecting as many units as you want to the same source.
In all cases, make sure that your existing HVAC system is up to code before you do anything else. This includes testing for leaks and proper operation. If it isn’t, have the air ducts cleaned before you start messing with any wiring or installing additional equipment. This will make sure that everything functions correctly when you are done.