No one likes to drag out their window air conditioning units every summer. They’re heavy and dirty, and it’s a huge pain to get them in the window just right. If you live in an apartment with pedestrian traffic below, installation can be downright dangerous.
Air conditioners are terrible for the environment, too. ACs draw huge amounts of energy, and the refrigerants inside them are a major contributor to global warming. But heat can be deadly, so until we have a better alternative to keep us cool, ACs aren’t going anywhere.
Enter July, a new company that aims to be at the forefront of design and environmental sustainability. It offers aesthetically-considered ACs that, while not exactly helping the environment, do less damage than traditional ACs.
July’s latest entry into the AC market is covered in moss. Moss, you say? Let’s explore that together.
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Introducing July’s Limited Edition Moss-Covered AC Unit
July makes air conditioners that don’t look like air conditioners. Take this new moss-covered one. The limited-edition moss window AC features a new veneer for their popular units. It cools just like a regular window AC with a decorative panel of moss where the front slats usually are.
The moss is preserved so it won’t turn brown or fall off, and it’s maintenance-free. No watering, no trimming, nothing.
July’s ACs come in two sizes, small (6,000 Btu) and medium (8,000 Btu). Both offer the moss panel. No word on whether a large is coming, but the manufacturer says the current offerings can cool a room up to 350 sq. ft.
July stresses environmental sustainability as one of their main company drivers, and they have the credentials to prove it. July offsets the carbon footprint of every unit sold for one year and uses a lower-emission refrigerant in its medium model.
Does it work? It does, according to dozens of positive reviews, best-of lists and social media posts. Earlier this summer the company had more than 20,000 people on its waiting list. Face it: If an AC doesn’t cool, no one’s going to line up to buy it.
Pros and Cons of a Moss-Covered AC Unit
This is a good-looking air conditioner. Instead of dirty plastic slats, you and your guests are treated to a pleasing view of natural greenery. Stick a few plants nearby, invest in July’s clear plexiglass side panels and you’ll hardly notice it’s there.
July’s moss-covered AC is a breeze to install, too. Gone are the days of those awkward accordion side panels, and worrying that you’ll drop the AC on the sidewalk. With July ACs, you install the frame first and the unit slides right in. How cool is that?
If you redecorate, don’t fret. The moss panel attaches with magnets, so you can swap it out for any of July’s eight other panel styles and colors — that is, if they’re not sold out.
The Wi-Fi enabled unit works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home. It comes with a remote, or you can download the July app and control it from your phone.
One downside: These units work best in small spaces. They’re great for a New York City studio apartment, but a giant Texas living room might need more than one.
Also, while the company’s sustainability efforts put it heads above other AC manufacturers, only the medium model uses lower-emission R32 refrigerant. July’s small AC runs on R410A refrigerant, which is scheduled to be phased out in the near future.
Why July?
July acknowledges air conditioning is a burden to the planet. The company embraces the notion that manufacturers must be part of the solution to our rising global temps.
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a rating given to various gases destined to end up in our atmosphere. R32 refrigerant in July’s medium model is a low-GWP product that cuts emissions by two-thirds compared to traditional ACs on the market.
July partners with Carbonfund.org to purchase carbon offsets for the first year’s emissions on every unit sold, too. July’s carbon offsets fund reforestation projects around the world. Trees are the earth’s natural defense against climate change, and they’re being cut down at alarming rates.
July also celebrates the importance of aesthetics in our personal spaces. It may not seem as important as saving the planet, but today’s consumers have grown up with an eye toward form as well as function. July’s attractive, environmentally-considered air conditioners cover both bases.
Originally Published: August 09, 2022
