Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in modern history. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important factor. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much a unit can cool in a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
If you are looking for an air conditioner that is new, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy consumption and expenses.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For example, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular 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. They usually make use of an array of packaged or split compressors and massive pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key element of global efforts to reduce climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures could be a major health risk if the indoor air quality is poor. There are fortunately numerous ways to improve IAQ, which can be a solution to common ailments like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative impact on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening, it is important to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a minimum. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier that is based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and general feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms will resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary aspect that influences IAQ. This is influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introducing plants into the home, opening windows and doors as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating effectively. If you’d like to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily get into your eyes, nose and throat, causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. The invisible fine particles in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing problems for those 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 particularly older homes with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. 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 is in the recirculation feature, make sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow the system to eliminate the smoke outside, rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, be sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, most energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However even with this, homeowners should be sure to study their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioning. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other leaky areas. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use window covers to block out sun, especially in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Additionally it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn off or on the system.