Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of our time. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other supplies possible.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing the right cooling system, energy efficiency is an important factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit is. You can locate a system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and costs.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. For instance, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy steps to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems in the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to curb climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings and these structures can pose significant health threats in the event that their indoor air quality is not as good. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources of pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of actions such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on air quality. The humid air encourages the development of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these issues. This can be achieved by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier that is based on the hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also improve the comfort of your home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general malaise. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the home, opening the windows and doors whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and easily get into your nose, eyes, and throat causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and cause worsening of heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from entering your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with a lot of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system has the ability to recirculate air, be sure to turn it off when the air is smokey. This allows the system to expel the smoke directly outside, rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that can produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure that those ducts are separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to remove gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, most energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, homeowners still need to be aware of their electricity usage patterns to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This method could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This method is efficient because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is properly insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest times of the daytime. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn on or off the system.
