As an expert in the air conditioning industry, I have encountered many misconceptions and misunderstandings about the terms AC and aircon. While these terms are often used interchangeably, there are actually some key differences between them that are important to understand. In this article, I will explain the difference between AC and aircon from an expert's perspective. Firstly, it is crucial to recognize that an air conditioner is a physical unit that requires an item. For example, a bus must be equipped with an air conditioner to be considered an air-conditioned bus.
This means that an air conditioner is a specific type of system designed to cool the air in a particular space. On the other hand, air conditioning is a broader term that encompasses various systems and technologies used for cooling, heating, and ventilation. In the air conditioning industry, the term HVAC is often used instead of air conditioning. HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, while air conditioning simply refers to air conditioned. This means that HVAC deals with both heating and refrigeration.
So while all AC systems are part of air conditioning, not all air conditioning systems are AC. Air conditioning is generally used to refer to systems that are designed to cool the air in your home. Window units and central air conditioning are standard systems that are widely used. On the other hand, HVAC can include heat pumps and gas furnaces, as well as air conditioning units. This means that HVAC deals with both heating and refrigeration. According to the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, “air conditioning” and “air conditioner” are nouns.
Contrary to popular belief, based on my personal experience in Singapore and the UK, the term air conditioner is also widely used as a shortened form of air conditioning. In the United Kingdom, the two words have similar levels of use, and in tropical Singapore (where the use of air conditioners is almost a necessity), the term air conditioner is used considerably more widely than the term air conditioning.
