Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions of the past century. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the negative impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors as well. For instance, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns as well. They usually make use of the combination of split or packaged compressors with huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key element of global efforts to combat climate change. We must ensure that cooling equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can take additional measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of humidity can also create havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, which can lead to respiratory problems. To prevent these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a lower level. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, cushions and using a dehumidifier or humidifier that is based on the humidity gauge.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as required.
The signs of poor air quality are varied and include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms will resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could cause health problems that are already present and could lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. There are many ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by introducing plants in the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating effectively. If you’re looking to go a step further, we suggest you speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
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 throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors especially older houses with many cracks and drafts. However, you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure you switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air to the outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages it is important to ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are effectively removing toxins from indoor air. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to eliminate gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at all times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this, homeowners still need to be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner, and leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use blinds to block sun light particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.