Beyond the energy class: the new air conditioners that enable indoor well-being

The air conditioner is increasingly dissociating itself from the cooling function alone, making it functional in every season of the year. The fluctuations in the cost of gas, together with the greater potential of air conditioners, pave the way for more efficient autonomous systems, capable of regulating the temperature in the house in winter and in summer, with a particular eye to saving on bills and with less dispersion of traditional heating systems.

More and more often these are products that can be managed remotely thanks to a mobile app and, above all, capable of guaranteeing an increasingly healthier indoor environment. Thus, if the first universally recognized parameter that is verified during the purchase phase is certainly the energy class, today perhaps it is not the most important.

Today, an air conditioner can be asked for more than just cooling or heating. Panasonic, for example, goes further. Many of its new air conditioners integrate the technology nanoe^{TM extension} x, an innovation capable of totally revolutionizing the domestic environment by improving air quality. Not only by acting directly on fine dust (PM 2.5), pollen, allergens, moulds, certain viruses and bacteria present in the air, but also by acting on the polluting agents which are deposited on sofas, curtains and carpets. Furthermore, it is also effective on odors.

Panasonic research starts from considerations concerning indoor pollution. Various researches – such as the Mal’aria Legambiente 2022 Dossier – argue that the domestic environment, but also the corporate one, is on average five times more polluted than the external environment. At home as in the office, dust, mould, bacteria and viruses proliferate that we inhale without knowing it, for at least 90% of our day. Therefore, it is essential to totally rethink the concept of an air conditioner, transforming it into a device for indoor well-being.

nanoe^{TM extension} X by Panasonic: the solution for indoor wellness

The technology present on the devices nanoe^{TM extension} xpresent on certain air conditioners, it is based on the release of hydroxyl radicals. These are unstable molecules that react with other elements such as hydrogen, capturing it. Thanks to this reaction, the OH radicals “denature” the proteins of various polluting agents, significantly improving the quality of the environments. By generating hydroxyl radicals by exploiting the humidity present in the air, the technology nanoe^{TM extension} x significantly increases their effectiveness and duration over time, going from less than a second in nature to more than 600 seconds (10 minutes), spreading more easily in the environment. Also, the device nanoe^{TM extension} x it has no filters and does not require maintenance, given that the electrodes are coated in titanium.

The new range of Panasonic air conditioners Etherea ZKE 2023 integrates the very latest Mark 3 generator, capable of producing 48 trillion hydroxyl radicals per second, against the 9600 of the previous models, proving to be even more effective in inhibiting polluting substances.

What really counts among the characteristics of air conditioners

As mentioned, the most important parameter to consider when choosing an air conditioner is not only the energy class. For example, SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) and SCOP (Seasonal Coefficent Of Performance) are the seasonal efficiency indices respectively in cooling and heating that define the energy performance of the product, so as to compare different models in relation to energy savings. , with the same nominal capacity. Panasonic proves to go far beyond the pure energy class and the reduction of consumption. The Panasonic Etherea ZKE model (2.5kw model), for example, has a SEER value of 9.5 compared to the 8.5 required by law for class A+++ models, guaranteeing a significant reduction in annual consumption.

During the purchase phase, then, it is necessary to take into account the sizing. Therefore, choose different powers according to the m2 to be heated or cooled. But it’s not just a question of square footage. In fact, other factors come into play in the evaluation such as the exposure of the house, its age, the number of people who live there and the presence of household appliances.

Precisely for this Panasonic provides two very useful tools. The first is the configurator, which, by answering a targeted questionnaire, allows you to identify the most suitable model for a certain environment. The augmented reality tool, on the other hand, allows you to instantly understand how the air conditioner will integrate into the furnishings of your home. Because it is also and above all on design and their “discretion” within an environment that the challenge of air conditioners is fought.

Lastly, a further contribution to the well-being of indoor environments and to containing consumption is provided by the Panasonic Comfort Cloud app, which the Etherea models are compatible with. The app, easy and immediate, is not limited to managing the air conditioner remotely, wherever you are, but represents a real tool for controlling the consumption of air conditioners in real time.

The new Etherea air conditioners, available in graphite grey, matt white and silver, are elegant and compact and adapt discreetly to any type of furniture.

Ultimately, it is evident that air conditioning technology has made great strides, transforming a simple cooling system into an intelligent device for all seasons and capable of positively influencing the well-being of people and environments.