Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions of modern history. They made wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
Cooling, however, puts an enormous strain on the power system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing an air conditioner, energy efficiency is an important aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient cooling system will lower your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways such as 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. You can find the 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 a new air conditioner look for one that has an excellent rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy consumption and costs in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. A high humidity indoors, a insufficient maintenance and duct leaks for instance, can cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns, too. They use a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to reduce climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in structures, and these structures could be a major health risk in the event that their indoor air quality is poor. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these problems. This can be done by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier using a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can improve the comfort of your home. For example, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
The signs of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and a general malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illnesses.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed that fresh air replaces old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introduction of plants into the home and opening doors and windows as much as is possible and making sure that the HVAC system is functioning effectively. For those who would prefer to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and can easily enter your eyes, nose, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and is causing dangerous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors particularly older homes with lots of drafts and cracks. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure to shut it off when air is smokey. This will allow the system eliminate the smoke outside, rather than returning it to inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are eliminating toxins from indoor air. Choose a filter that has an MERV that is at least (MERV) that is 13 or more. These filters are designed to remove gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even so homeowners should be aware of their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures as well as the inside air. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will turn up the temperature and leave it on until the next time it’s turned off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through doors, windows, and other leaky points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is properly constructed and insulated, and also cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block out the sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.