Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and 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 selecting a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a key aspect. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy costs and also reduce environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the score, 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.
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 will perform in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy use and cost.
Other factors can affect energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. A high humidity indoors, a lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can cause your system to perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They use a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling appliances are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also create havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is key to preventing these issues. This can be achieved by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, furniture and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. For instance, a home with a lot of air pollution can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. These symptoms may improve after leaving the area however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by introducing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you want to go further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they’re not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from getting into your business or home through windows and doors especially older houses with lots of drafts and cracks. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system is in the recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside, rather than recirculating it inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks or parking garages You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners must examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This strategy could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature and leave it on until the next time it is shut off.
This method is efficient because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should consider using window shades to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the daytime. Additionally it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to start and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting when to switch on or off the system.