Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions in the history of modern times. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts an enormous strain on the power system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. You can find 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 that is new, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs in normal conditions during a particular season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy use and expenses.
Other things can influence energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For instance, high indoor humidity levels and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system work harder and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems often make use of the combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to reduce climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are a variety of actions we can take to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings and these structures could be a major health risk if the indoor air quality is not as good. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources of pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities such as cleaning, cooking, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
The high levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is essential to avoid these problems. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can improve the comfort of your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
The signs of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and general feeling of malaise. The symptoms can resolve when you leave the room, but prolonged exposure to poor quality air can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important aspect that influences IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introducing plants into the house opening up windows and doors as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous and easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing dangerous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes breathing problems for those who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes with many cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This can reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your business or home.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing toxins from indoor air. Choose a filter that has the minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This requires a thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so, homeowners still need to examine their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. This could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their AC to a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures as well as the inside air. When peak energy costs hit the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It also aims to prevent heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to start and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to switch off or on.
