Seawater air conditioning (SWAC) is a renewable energy system that uses the cold water from the deep ocean to cool buildings.  Conventional air conditioning systems consume four to 12 times more electricity than equivalent SWAC systems.  A SWAC system is a cost-effective and attractive green-energy investment, and a smart way of using renewable energy for air conditioning.

A SWAC system is suitable for coastal developments with large air conditioning demands and reasonable access to deep, cold seawater.  The main factors that influence the economic viability of a SWAC system are:

• distance offshore to cold water in the 39˚F-45˚F range
• size of the air conditioning load
• concentration of the air conditioning load; i.e., size of the onshore distribution system
• utilization of the air conditioning system (during days, nights, weekends, etc.)
• local cost of electrical power and water