Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions of the history of modern times. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and other supplies possible.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and produces huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Making the switch to a more efficient air conditioner will save on your energy bills and reduce environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much a unit can cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner that is new, choose one with a high rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to reduce 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 that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources of pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a lower level. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and using a dehumidifier or humidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can improve the comfort of your home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated eyes or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are open for ventilation as required.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and general unwellness. While these symptoms will disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed that fresh air replaces stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rate and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introduction of plants into the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you want to go a step further, we suggest you talk to a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective in removing biological contaminants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause variety health effects such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and causes breathing problems for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely block smoky air from entering your business or home through windows and doors especially older houses with lots of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows the system to expel the smoke directly outside rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that may generate high levels of contaminants, such as parking garages with attached loading docks, you should be sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can be adjusted automatically. However homeowners should take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. This strategy can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To make the house super cool homeowners, they set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at that temperature for a couple of hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their homes are properly sealed and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also cover windows to block the sun, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to switch off or on.