Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most significant inventions of the past century. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling puts a huge strain on electricity systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when selecting a new cooling unit. Making the switch to a more efficient air conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impacts. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. You can find the SEER rating on the 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 indicates how efficiently the unit will perform in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Other things can influence the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They use a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to reduce climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers want them. In the meantime, we can take other steps to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings and these structures could cause serious health risks in the event that their indoor air quality is not as good. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
The high levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory issues. To prevent these issues, it is important to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. This can be achieved by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, soft furnishings and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier that is based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritated eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are kept open to let in air as required.
The symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing the old 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 enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’d prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are excellent in removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause a variety health effects such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout most of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoky air from getting into your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with many cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks in order to slow the movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to turn off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air, rather than recirculating it. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that can generate high levels of contaminants, such as parking garages with attached loading docks, you should be sure to have those ducts separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions to ensure they are effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving 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. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However, even with this, homeowners need to take the time to study their electric consumption patterns and decide the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. This strategy can save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools the walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner and leave it on until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the home cool. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use blinds to block out sun particularly those that receive direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest parts of the daytime. Also, they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.