Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They helped make wartime and summer blockbusters and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts an enormous strain on the power system and produces huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the impact and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy costs and also reduce environmental impacts. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how the air conditioner is able to cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy consumption and costs in the event that you replace an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often make use of an array of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the efficiency of systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to reduce climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings and these structures could cause serious health risks if the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of actions like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory issues. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a low level. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. For example, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open doors and windows to let air flow in when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms will be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by adding plants to the house and opening doors and windows as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning properly. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke are very dangerous and can easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. Smoke particles can cause a variety of health problems like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation mode, make sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of the air being recirculated inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are eliminating toxins from indoor air. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to remove the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners must be aware of and look up their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. This can save you up to 25 percent off your energy bill.
To cool the house, the homeowner should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost hours arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and runs it until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air inside the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use window covers to block out the sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also think about installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills low and not worry about forgetting to turn off the system or on.
