Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They helped make summer blockbusters, wartime planes and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and produces huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the effects and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is a key factor. The upgrade to a more efficient cooling system will lower your energy costs and also reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the 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, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can reduce your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact energy efficiency in air conditioning systems too. High indoor humidity, lack of maintenance and duct leaks for example, can all cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems use a combination split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are super-efficient and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to reduce 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 isn’t good enough. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution 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 trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative impact on the quality of air. Moist air encourages the development of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. The best way to achieve this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside 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 pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a general malaise. The symptoms can resolve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works properly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we suggest that you consult a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congested nasal, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality issues across most of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from getting into your business or home through windows and doors particularly older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure to switch it off when the air is smoking. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside, rather than recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that may produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, you should be sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they’re effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, many electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. Even so homeowners must be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there 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. Then, when peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it’s off for several hours.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the house cooler. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through windows, doors and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block the sun, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.