Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the effects and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool with a certain amount of power consumed. The higher the rating is, 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 look for one that has a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. High indoor humidity, lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for example, can all cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations also. These systems often make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into a single system. Verde has helped optimize the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning recommendations that provide quick paybacks.
The global effort to reduce climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures can be a major health risk if their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources of pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidity gauge.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. A home with high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes as well as a stuffy sensation. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general malaise. The symptoms can resolve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even cause serious illnesses.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, as well as the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the house and opening doors and windows whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we recommend that you speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke 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 your lungs and aggravate chronic heart and lung conditions. The invisible fine particles in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada, and it is causing dangerous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and can cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering 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 home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure to switch it off when the air is smokey. This will allow your HVAC to expel the smokey indoor air, rather than recirculating it. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
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 more. These filters are designed to remove gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at any time of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However homeowners should take the time to analyze their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other leaky areas. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window coverings to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright 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 escape during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting when to switch on or off the system.
