Understanding that this is a real worry for many consumers, Samsung works tirelessly to make its appliances more energy efficient. This is especially helpful in South Africa with rising energy costs. For example, Samsung’s Wind-Free Air Conditioner features Digital Inverter Boost technology, an energy-saving innovation that reduces the device’s energy consumption by up to 73% compared to traditional fixed-speed type air conditioners.¹

Furthermore, the Wind-Free Air Conditioner’s Wind-Free Mode can even cut energy consumption by 77% compared to the unit’s Fast Cooling Mode, even while at maximum output. Samsung Newsroom sat down with two Samsung engineers to learn more about the Wind-Free Air Conditioner and its revolutionary energy-saving technologies.²

(From left) Kilsoo Son and Byoung-Ok Ahn, engineers at Samsung’s HVAC Solution R&D Lab

Reducing Electricity Usage With Digital Inverter Boost Technology

Just as the water in a waterfall cascades from higher ground to lower terrain, so does energy move from high to low. Air conditioners that use compressor technology to lower temperatures have to reduce heat through a process that runs contrary to this natural flow of energy – which is why air conditioners conventionally require a lot of energy to function. “The compressor serves as a pump that circulates the heat, moving matter from a lower point to a higher point,” explained Principal Engineer Byoung-Ok Ahn. “This means that the unit has to consume electricity.”

To help users save energy, Samsung adopted an inverter compressor – Digital Inverter Boost technology – that can regulate its own revolutions per minute (RPM) to maintain its energy use at maximum efficiency.

A fixed-speed compressor will run at maximum speed until the desired temperature is reached, and will then turn off once this is achieved. If the temperature exceeds this desired rate after the first round of cooling, it will switch on again at maximum output to lower the temperature. This repeated on-and-off process is incredibly energy-intensive, and also creates a fluctuation in room temperature as cooling is turned on and off again.

Inverter technology is more efficient since it simply slows down once the desired temperature is achieved and then only has to speed up slightly once the temperature goes up again, meaning that energy consumption is reduced by up to 73%. This process results in less temperature fluctuation, meaning that users can enjoy a consistently comfortable room temperature.

“The bigger the difference between the room temperature and the desired temperature, the higher the amount of energy that is consumed when the air conditioner is turned on,” noted Ahn. “When we compare the accumulated amount of consumed electricity between the fixed-speed compressor and the inverter compressor, the inverter type is notably more economical than the fixed-speed type since the latter turns on and off repetitively.”

Ahn also provided a tip for getting the most out of your air conditioner. “The most efficient way to use an air conditioner equipped with an inverter compressor is to set the desired temperature at between 24°C and 25°C (between around 75°F and 77°F) and to keep it on continuously when using it. Samsung’s inverter technology performs powerfully and efficiently because the total flux of its motor is maximised and the motor has multiple poles. Furthermore, this technology reduces vibration and noise for user peace of mind.”

Enjoying a Comfortable Breeze at All Times

Often with air conditioners, once the temperature in a room has been reduced to the desired temperature, the continued airflow from the indoor unit can become uncomfortably chilling. Continuous, direct exposure to cold wind can dry out the respiratory system and affect user’s health, making them more sensitive to illnesses. Homes with young children or family members who suffer from respiratory symptoms may be wary about keeping their air conditioner on continuously.

“The Wind-Free Air Conditioner’s Wind-Free Mode was developed to alleviate this inconvenience. The 2020 version of this air conditioner features 23,000 micro air holes, which gently disperse the cold air evenly throughout a room. This way, users can enjoy a cool air stream without being directly exposed to cold wind,” explained Ahn. “Wind-Free Mode can even cut energy consumption by 77% compared to the unit’s Fast Cooling Mode, even while at maximum output.”

Another unique feature of Samsung’s Wind-Free air conditioner is its bigger inlet and fan which allow for more air to be drawn in at once. “The air conditioner’s fan, the diameter of which is 15% bigger than conventional fans, along with the optimized width and angle of the outlet, means that energy consumption is reduced by 10%. Furthermore, air is cooled down to the desired temperature even faster,” said Engineer Kilsoo Son.

※ Figures drawn in comparison to the existing AQV12TWS model

The air conditioner’s inverter and its Wind-Free technology work together in synergy to create even higher efficiency when bringing users comfort at home. Once the desired room temperature is reached with the air conditioner’s powerful and fast cooling technology, the unit switches to Wind-Free Mode, slowing down the speed of the compressor while keeping the air cool, comfortable and quiet while minimising electricity consumption.

Changing Modes Automatically for Ultimate User Peace of Mind

As well as its inverter technology and Wind-Free Mode, the 2020 Wind-Free Air Conditioner features other innovative features designed to help reduce users’ electricity bills. The unit’s ECO Mode also reduces the air conditioner’s RPM by up to 35% of its regular rate to reduce electricity consumption if it detects that there are few people in the room or that the ambient temperature is low. ³

* 2020 Wind-Free Air Conditioner features motion sensor

The AI Auto Cooling feature learns users’ preferred temperature and creates an optimal operation mode. “The AI Auto Cooling feature will provide users with an optimal setting,” explained Son. “The more users use it, the more it learns about your preferences. I encourage users to use this feature often so that they can easily and automatically enjoy their favourite temperatures without having to flip through settings, wasting energy.”

Users can reduce energy consumption even more with SmartThings. Users can turn off their air conditioner remotely and keep track of their daily, weekly and monthly electricity usage with the SmartThings app. In addition, the ‘My Schedule’ feature of SmartThings lets users set their air conditioner’s operation time, mode, temperature and fan speed remotely.

A Better Future for All With Air Conditioner Innovation

Higher electricity bills are not the only concern when it comes to energy consumption – many consumers are also concerned about how their appliance usage can impact the environment. This is why Samsung strives to make all of its devices, including its air conditioners, more energy-efficient and sustainable for the future. “While we work to provide optimum air cooling solutions, we also strive to ensure that our leading technologies remain energy-efficient,” noted Ahn.

Son echoed this commitment to sustainability. “We will continue to work to develop air conditioners that provide maximum comfort to users at minimum cost while also having a positive impact on our environment, not just for today, but also for the future.”

¹ Tested on the AR09TXCAAWKNEU model compared with the Samsung conventional model AQ09TSLXEA.

² Tested on the AR07T9170HA3 model, based on the power consumption of Fast Cooling mode vs. Wind-Free Cooling mode.

³ Tested on AR07T9170HA3, based on the power consumption of Fast cooling mode vs. ECO mode.

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 15 January 2019 – Southern African summers are a beautiful time of the year. The skies are blue, the bush is green and if you are lucky, you will witness Mother Nature putting on a show of powerful and lightning storms. But one thing to keep in mind is that these summers can get very hot. If you’re not used to these extreme temperatures, you might wonder how you will ever survive this scorching heat.

“In order to encourage sleep our core body temperature must decrease. However, unusually high temperature and humidity levels impacts the body’s ability to drift into the zone required for healthy rest. It’s therefore essential that you find a way to regulate your body temperature,” says Robert Larkan, Head of Digital Air Solutions at Samsung South Africa.

Here are some tricks to cool down the heat spell which can make a difference if you can’t stand another restless night in bed:

Go with Cotton

Forget the fancy satin or silk sheets. Light-coloured linens made of lightweight cotton (Egyptian or otherwise) are breathable and excellent for promoting ventilation and airflow in the bedroom.

Freeze Out Summer

It’s a bit unusual but stick your sheets in a plastic bag and place them in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes before bed. This will at least buy you some extra time to beat the heat.

Dust Off the Hot Water Bottle

During summer, fill up your trusty hot water bottle and keep it in the freezer for half hour to create a bed-friendly ice pack.

Water, As Always, Is A Lifesaver

Drinking a glass of water before bed helps avoid the dehydration that’s sure to come with a night of tossing, turning and sweating. You probably want to avoid too much water though as you may be kept awake by those inconvenient trips to the bathroom.

Load Shed Yourself

Light bulbs give off heat but fortunately, summer means it stays lighter later. So take advantage of natural light as much as possible and keep rooms cool after dark by using minimal lights. Switching off other unnecessary devices and gadgets also helps. There’s an extra benefit – your energy bill won’t keep you awake at night either.

Get Cold Feet

There are lots of pulse points in your feet and ankles. This means you instantly cool down by soaking your feet in cold water before sleeping.

Be a Bed Hog

This works better if you’re sleeping alone. Spreading out with your arms and legs not touching each other, is best for reducing body heat and letting air circulate around the body. However, if you don’t sleep alone, you may end up in some heated arguments unfortunately.

TOP TIP

Nothing beats an air conditioner though. Even then, the type of air conditioner makes a difference. An air conditioner that constantly blasts cool air at you can have negative consequences. Samsung’s Wind-Free technology is an example of good airflow control. After you’ve selected the desired temperature with Fast Cooling mode, it maintains the ideal temperature without any direct wind by gently dispersing cool and still air through micro air holes for a natural cooling effect. The Wind-Free system’s new Good Sleep mode creates the ideal air conditions in your bedroom, so you can sleep well knowing you won’t feel cold during the night or wake in the morning with a chill. It’s the best way to go from goodnight to good morning.

Tips sourced from:
https://greatist.com/happiness/tricks-to-sleep-in-the-heat

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 10 October, 2018 – With the warm African sun smiling down on us, summer in South Africa is glorious. It’s that wonderful time that sends us rushing happily to beaches, pools and sunny picnic spots. The heat at night, however, can be decidedly uncomfortable, unless you have a good air conditioner. But is the aircon good for you?

Choose The Right Temperature

Air conditioners serve a greater purpose than helping you beat a stuffy, summer’s night. It’s all about body temperature regulation. The magic temperature range for a good sleep is between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. While 15 degrees may feel too cold for some and 20 degrees too hot for others, once you find your sweet spot you’ll be in dreamland in no time. The science behind it is simple. This temperature range assists the body to reach the cooler temperatures that induce deep sleep. Therefore, an aircon is a good example of human-friendly technology.

“Technology is here to make life better. And a good night’s sleep has many essential benefits that impact your whole day. At Samsung, we conduct exhaustive research to produce pioneering technologies aimed at encouraging healthy sleeping patterns,” says Robert Larkan, Head of Digital Air Solutions at Samsung South Africa.

Make Sleep A Priority

Constantly waking up in middle of the night to adjust a duvet or turn over to the ‘cooler’ side of the pillow is frustrating. And after just a few nights of tossing turning in bed we begin to suffer the effects of sleep deprivation. We often don’t notice the impact on our mental abilities and ultimately put our health at risk.  Poor sleep is also linked to weight gain and weakened immune systems. If you don’t snooze, you lose.

Go With The Flow

It is also important that you factor in the quality of your air conditioning. Your aircon must be properly maintained and operate with clean filters to ensure a healthy sleeping environment. Another factor is the consistency of the airflow. An aircon that constantly blasts cool air at you can have negative consequences. Samsung’s Wind-Free technology is an example of good airflow control. After you’ve selected the desired temperature with Fast Cooling mode, it maintains the ideal temperature without any direct wind by gently dispersing cool and still air through micro air holes for a natural cooling effect. This also negates the stuffiness people feel in artificially regulated temperatures.

Sleep Yourself Younger

There are many benefits to sleeping in cool temperatures. *Temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees encourage your body to release melatonin, a hormone that challenges the symptoms of ageing by holding wrinkles and age spots at bay. When you keep cool, you release more of this remarkable hormone. Your more youthful self also benefits from the peaceful sleep with a sharper attention span the following day.

Clearly, looking and feeling healthier is affected by the quality your sleep. And if an air conditioner can help you get a good night’s rest, then it’s a dream investment.

^{*https://sleep.org/articles/temperature-for-sleep/}

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 06 September 2018 – Change is in the air. Most people anticipate the end of winter with the eagerness of a Labrador puppy who just spotted its owner arriving from work. The end of the sniffle season is warmly welcomed, but is the change of season all that good for us? Surprisingly, spring is not exactly a breath of fresh air.

Springing a surprise

As Robert Larkan, Head of Digital Air Solutions at Samsung South Africa explains, “Temperature and humidity levels, as well as the concentration of gases and chemicals in the air are all affected by changes in the weather. The outdoor climate affects the climate indoors and influences air pollution in your home.”

The beginning of spring in South Africa can be predictably unpredictable. While summer is mostly hot and winter cold, early spring can be either. This kind of erratic weather can cause more frequent headaches, joint pain, tiredness, and even the return of the dreaded cold. The moist air associated with seasonal thunderstorms can also concentrate and break up pollen and pollution into smaller particles which are more easily inhaled deep into the lungs and even trigger asthma attacks. Warm and moist conditions also spur on the release of fungal spores which can set off allergies in some of us. The reality is that every season influences the quality of air in your home and can even affect how you sleep. Fortunately, modern advances in air conditioning do a make a difference.

“Despite the season, you can still control the air around you when you’re indoors. In fact, at Samsung we’ve pioneered technologies that can counter what the seasons blow in. Our air conditioners have an easy filter that captures dust, dangerous contaminants and allergens and a Virus Doctor that reduces certain harmful viruses and bacteria,” says Larkan.

Summer saves the day

South Africa races more quickly to summer than many other countries. There is much less of a transition from spring to the blazing African heat than our friends in the North. Better still, the sunnier weather puts us closer to our comfort zone, which is at around 20 degrees Celsius. At this temperature, we don’t need to sweat to keep cool or shiver to keep warm.

Of course, the more the temperature exceeds the 20 degree-mark, the less comfortable we feel. Air-conditioning becomes a factor once more. This is where Samsung’s Wind-Free technology can come to the rescue. After you’ve selected the desired temperature with Fast Cooling mode, it maintains the ideal temperature without any direct wind by gently dispersing cool and still air through micro air holes for a natural cooling effect. This also negates the stuffiness people feel in artificially regulated temperatures. This can defuse office aircon wars that are commonplace when the summer months hit. At home you feel more comfortable and are more likely to get a peaceful night’s sleep.

Whether spring is in the air or you have that summer feeling, your health and how you feel is impacted by the air around you. Isn’t it great to know you can control it?