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 made blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and generates massive amounts 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 aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. You can find a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When shopping for a new air conditioning system, search for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will greatly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns, too. These systems use a combination split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with a Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to combat the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling equipment is super-efficient and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other steps to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is an important health issue for those who spend a large part of their lives in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by various activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Moist air encourages the growth of mold and mildew which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these problems. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, furniture and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms will resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious illness.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the rate at which fresh air replaces old air, a process known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather conditions, the room occupancy rate and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’d prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous and easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can trigger a variety health effects, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across much of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If you can, put wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air to the outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that can generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, you should be sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specially designed to remove gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However homeowners should be aware of their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner and leave it on until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through doors, windows and other points that leak. This is why homeowners should ensure that their homes are properly sealed and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should use window covers to block out the sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help 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 switch on or off the system.
