Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
Cooling, however puts an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive quantities of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are looking for an air conditioner for the first time, choose one with a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy costs and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, can make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems use a combination packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could 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 with an Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture, and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritation eyes or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, concentration problems and general malaise. The symptoms can resolve when you leave the room, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the most important aspect that influences IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and the design of the building. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including adding plants to the home and opening doors and windows as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’d like to take more of a thorough approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological pollutants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and can easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and aggravate chronic heart and lung conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing problems for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors especially older houses with lots of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside rather than recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that could have high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, be sure to have those ducts separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure they’re effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to remove gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However, even with this, homeowners should be sure to study their electric usage patterns and figure out the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioner. This strategy can save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the interior air. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the home cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is properly insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using blinds to block out sun particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting when to turn on or off the system.