Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions in modern history. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, places enormous strain on the electricity system and generates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on expenses for energy and reduce environmental impacts. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system 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 look for one that has a high rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect 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 more efficient and consume 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 subject to energy efficiency concerns. They usually utilize the combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipes 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.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling devices are extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory issues. To avoid these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase the comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritation eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, concentration problems and a general feeling of unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the speed that fresh air replaces stale air, a process known as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, as well as the design of the building. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. This includes adding plants to the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
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 specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that 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 tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across much of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure to switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that can generate high levels of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separated 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 removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based upon the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners need to be aware of and examine their electricity usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air cooling system. This can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and then leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours again.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window covers to block out the sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles are in progress. Also, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This helps homeowners cut their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.