Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most important inventions of our time. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, places immense strain on the electricity system and generates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting the right cooling system, energy efficiency is a crucial aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit can cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. 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 for the first time, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy costs and consumption in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could 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.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations also. These systems use a combination split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to combat the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling devices are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of moisture may have a negative impact on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration, and a general unwellness. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could exacerbate existing health conditions and may lead to serious health issues.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, the room occupancy rate and the design. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the house, opening the windows and doors whenever possible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we suggest that you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart conditions. The invisible fine particles in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky fog can reduce visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoky air from entering your business or home through doors and windows particularly older homes with a lot 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 can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp 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 has the ability to recirculate air, be sure to shut it off when air is smokey. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside instead of the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as 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 changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans with different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even with this homeowners should take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. This method can save you up to 25 percent off your energy bill.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at the same setting for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method is efficient because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the house cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window shades to block sun light, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles are in progress. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.
