Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the effects of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and also reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, look for one with a high SEER rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating can reduce the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. High indoor humidity, lack of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, could all make your system be more demanding and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. They typically utilize a combination of packaged or split compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They might also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning recommendations that provide rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to reduce climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures could pose significant health threats if their indoor air quality is not as good. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
High levels of moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a low level. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, furniture and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
The signs of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and a general malaise. These symptoms may resolve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even cause serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed that fresh air replaces old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including adding plants to the house, opening windows and doors as much as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you’re looking to go one step further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen the severity of heart and lung problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across most of the north and south of the United States. 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 stop smoky air from entering your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with lots of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks around door frames and in the corners to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows the system to eliminate the smoke outside, rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. However homeowners must take the time to analyze their patterns of usage of electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the inside air. When peak energy costs hit the homeowner, he or she will turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air inside the house cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use blinds to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the daytime. Additionally they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed 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 makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low and not worry about forgetting to turn the system off or on.
