Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most important inventions in the past century. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and other supplies possible.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and generates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner that is new pick one with an A+ rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating could lower the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations also. They usually make use of an array of split or packaged compressors that have huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers want them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in structures, and these structures can cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. Moist air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is key to preventing these issues. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are open for ventilation as needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can disappear after leaving the area, prolonged exposure could worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important aspect that influences IAQ. This is influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at filtering out biological contaminants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions throughout most of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through doors and windows especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has the ability to recirculate air, be sure that you switch it off when the air is smoking. This allows your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that can generate high levels of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can be adjusted automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be aware of and examine their electricity consumption patterns and decide the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To supercool homeowners, they set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit, the homeowner turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours again.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use blinds to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest parts of the daytime. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles are in progress. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to start 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.