Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most important inventions of modern history. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other equipment possible.
Cooling, however puts enormous strain on the electricity system and produces huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects 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 an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills, as well as 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 for a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, search for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform during a season under normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and costs.
Other factors can affect energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and use more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are easy steps to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply 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 a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air-conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives inside buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most common pollutants in modern offices and homes. 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 humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a lower level. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier that is based on the humidity gauge.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. A home with high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, concentration problems, and a general unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the main aspect that influences IAQ. This is affected by the weather, room occupancy rate, and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. These include introducing plants in the home, opening the windows and doors whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system works correctly. For those who would prefer more of a thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out most biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they’re not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk, and they can easily get into your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through doors and windows particularly in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow the system eliminate the smoke outside, rather than recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that may generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure that those ducts are independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively removing the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at any given time of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so homeowners should take the time to analyze their patterns of usage of electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their AC to lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioner up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is successful since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is sealed and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should use window covers to block out sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles are in progress. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy bills without worrying about forgetting when to switch on or off the system.