Sunset Air Blog: Archive for July, 2014

Alternatives to Central Air Conditioning

Friday, July 11th, 2014

When it is time to purchase an air conditioning system, central AC is the only way to go, right? Not necessarily! Even though central AC units may be what you usually find at your friends’ and neighbors’ homes, there are, in fact, some alternatives to central air conditioning that you might consider for your new air conditioning installation this summer.

Ductless Mini Split Systems

Ductless mini split systems are a useful alternative for many homes in which ductwork installation is difficult. In this case, a ductless system can distribute air with the use of an outdoor condenser unit (similar to those used in central air conditioning systems) as well as indoor air handlers installed in different areas of the house. Each air handler has its own thermostat so you can vary the temperature in different areas or rooms of the home.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are similar to central air conditioning systems, but, like ductless mini split systems, they can provide both heating and cooling. Heat pumps pull heat from the air in your home and move it outside in order to provide cool air. During the heating season, this process reverses and the heat pump pulls heat from the outside air to pump it indoors. Because they rely on the air outdoors to provide heating and cooling, heat pumps usually work best in mild climates and may not be right for every home.

Geothermal Air Conditioning Systems

A geothermal system works much like a heat pump, but the heat pulled from your home during the cooling season is released into the earth rather than into the air. In heating mode, the system absorbs heat from the ground and moves it into your home. To accomplish this, a system of coils and a refrigerant line are buried in your yard. While the cost of installation is generally higher than with other air conditioning options, a geothermal system is a great investment because it requires less maintenance, has a longer lifespan, and is better for the environment than other central air conditioning options.

To discuss your air conditioning options with an AC expert, call Sunset Air today!

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Leading the Way with Independence Days!

Thursday, July 3rd, 2014

The term “Fourth of July” is the popular name for the U.S. federal holiday officially known as Independence Day. It isn’t surprising that we would come up with a different name from the official one, since “Independence Day” is one of the most common holiday names across the globe. Most of the nations in existence today won their independence from another power, whether through wars, treaties, or long transitions.

What might surprise many people is how old U.S. Independence Day actually is compared to the similar holidays of other nations. Although the U.S. is still considered a young nation, it was one of the first to make a full break for its colonial master with a new constitution. Most countries that celebrate a national Independence Day are commemorating events that occurred in the second half of the 20th century, when many older empires at last relinquished control over their colonies.

How substantial is the difference in time for the U.S.A. and the rest of the world? U.S. Independence Day celebrates the signing of the Declaration of Independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1776, making our country unusual in that almost no existing nations celebrate an independence event from the eighteenth century.

In terms of age, there is only a tiny handful current countries that celebrate an independence day that occurred earlier than the United States. Switzerland celebrates its independence from the Holy Roman Empire of the Germans in 1291 with “Swiss National Day,” held every August 1—although this only gained status as a national holiday in 1994. Sweden Celebrates “National Day of Sweden” to commemorate events in 1523 and the election of King Gustav I during the War of Liberation against Christian II of Denmark and Norway. Romania comes almost a hundred years after U.S. Independence, with its 1877 freedom from Turkish rule.

The most recent Independence Days to come into existence are for Montenegro, which gained independence from Serbia in 2006 and celebrates the day on May 21, and South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and celebrates the day only a day after the U.S., on July 5.

Does anyone else celebrate a literal “Fourth of July,” an Independence Day that also falls on the fourth day of the seventh month? Yes: Abkhazia, a small Central Asian country that declared its independence from the Republic of Georgia in 1999 (although not all countries recognize it). Coming a day (like South Sudan) on July 5 is the independence of the small Atlantic island nation of Cape Verde, which became free from Portugal through signed agreement in 1975.

Everyone at Sunset Air hopes you and your family enjoy a vibrant Independence Day/Fourth of July this year!

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