Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of our time. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. You can find the system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning unit, look for one with a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit performs in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy consumption and costs if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, can make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns, too. They use a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a major component of global efforts to combat climate change. We must ensure that cooling equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures could cause serious health risks when their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are fortunately numerous ways to improve IAQ and be a solution to common ailments like asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent pollutants in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. The humid air encourages the development of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a minimum. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing an air dehumidifier and humidifier if necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also improve the comfort of your home. A home with high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are open for ventilation as required.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general feeling of ill-health. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introducing plants into the home, opening windows and doors as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous, and they can easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of chronic heart and lung conditions. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues, 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 throughout most of the south and north of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outside.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. 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 movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure to shut it off when air is smoky. This will allow 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 contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) that is 13 or more. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can be adjusted automatically. Even so homeowners should take the time to analyze their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. 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 lower temperatures the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This method is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is essential that homeowners check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window shades to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also, they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low and not worry about forgetting to turn off the system or on.
