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Hitachi

Room Air Conditioners - Stainless Clean Shirokuma-kun

[Image] Air conditioners are the biggest power users in ordinary households.That's why we made sure they are the biggest energy savers too.

Air conditioners account for a quarter of household electricity costs. Hitachi decided that the very fact that we use air conditioners every day was a good reason to increase their energy saving performance. The RAS-S40X2 Shirokuma-kun Room Air Conditioner is at the forefront of the industry with its compact size and energy saving* performance, utilizing state-of-the-art technology. Savings made in energy also mean reduced CO2 emissions.

  • * For 4.0kW-class household room air conditioners, as of June 2008. Periodic power consumption is 1382kWh.

(Released in September 2008)

Energy-saving performance required by air conditioners.

Room air conditioners are often operated at full power in order to make our rooms cool and comfortable. Recently the number of households which use air conditioners; not just for the rainy season and summer but for the whole year round, regardless of the season; has increased.
As we can see in the chart below, a comparison of power consumption in ordinary Japanese household shows that air conditioners take up a full 25% of the total. Accordingly, some customers have been dissatisfied with the size of the power bills thus caused by air conditioners.
In addition, any savings made in power usage are reflected in reducing CO2 emissions. Enhancing the energy saving performance of air conditioners, which could potentially be used every day, will not only make our customers happy but also reduce the burden on the environment. Hence Hitachi has made every effort to create air conditioners which can operate on as little power as possible.

[Image] Comparison of Household Power Usage /-Household power usage At about 25%, room air conditioners use the most power!

  • * Source: Outline of Power Demand in Japan for FY2004 Agency for Natural Resources and Energy (FY2003 Estimated Figures)

How can lower energy usage be achieved?

[Image] Eco Scroll - Reducing waste in the compression process!

Increasing the efficiency of the compressor (the unit that compresses the refrigerants), which uses about 80% of power consumed by air conditioners, is the key to reducing their energy usage. Hitachi has pioneered the use of a scroll compressor, which allows successive compression and increases efficiency. Improved efficiency has been achieved for this product through the use of the 'Eco Scroll,' which comprehensively reduces loss in the refrigerant compression process with high capacity cylinders.
The use of the 'Eco Scroll' has achieved streamlined operating efficiency.
A control circuit called the 'IQ-PAM Engine', which gathers information from sensors inside and outside the room also allows optimum efficiency in operation controls.
Hitachi's unique technology, ensures its air conditioners achieve high-powered operations with low energy usage, utilizing high density 'heat exchangers' to expand the surface area touched by the air.

[Image] IQ-PAM Engine Gathers sensor data for effective operating control! /Hitachi Technology achieves high-powered operations with low energy usage

Improved energy saving performance in a compact body!

Hitachi' s RAS-S40X2 Shirokuma-kun Room Air Conditioner makes use of cutting-edge technology such as the ' Eco Scroll' and the ' IQ-PAM Engine', giving it a more compact shape than that of the 1997 Hitachi model and also greatly improved power saving efficiency. The periodic power consumption achieves 5.8 times the annual performance factor (APF) of 1,382kWh*, calculated from the conditions set by the industry association, and the energy-saving characteristics of this model are further confirmed by the winning of an energy-saving award.
Hence, upgrading to the RAS-S40X2 saves 35%* of annual power usage and reduces CO2 emissions by 298kg*. In the end, RAS-S40X2 requires less energy. Saving power consumption at home leads to reduce the amount of CO2 in the Earth's atmosphere.

[Image] Power Usage and CO2 Reduction /Annual power consumption Reduced by about 35% /Annual CO2 emissions Reduced by about 298kg

  • ＊Periodic power consumption amounts from conditions (JRA4606) set by the Japan Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Industry Association. The external temperature conditions used as the basis for calculation use Tokyo as a model.

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