Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most significant inventions of our time. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are looking for an air conditioner that is new, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. A high humidity indoors, a lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for example, can all make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems often use the combination of packaged or split compressors with huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the performance of systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy use 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 in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cleaning, cooking, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
The presence of excessive moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in moist air, which can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these problems. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as necessary based on hygrometer readings.
Apart from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in homes. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main aspect that influences IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. This includes introducing plants in the home, opening doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you’re looking to go further, we suggest you talk to a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow your HVAC to expel the smokey indoor air to the outside instead of recirculating it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as parking garages or loading docks it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to eliminate gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. Most energy companies offer “time of use” plans that have different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. Even with this homeowners should examine their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at that temperature for a couple of 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 will turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the house cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. They should also make use of window shades to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats that can help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to turn the system off or on.
