Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most important inventions of our time. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and creates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the negative impact of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrading to an efficient air cooling system will lower your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit can cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. You can find the SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When shopping for a new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Other things can influence the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, insufficient maintenance and duct leaks, for example, can all make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. They typically utilize the combination of split or packaged compressors with huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to reduce climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is an important health issue for many people who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening it is crucial to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture at a minimum. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. A home that has high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, ensure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration, and a general unwellness. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the house and opening doors and windows as much as is possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working effectively. 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
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they 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 the lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely block smoky air from getting into your business or home through windows and doors, especially older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks around door frames and in the corners to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure that they are effective in removing the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners must take the time to study their electric consumption patterns and decide when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioning. This could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning up and runs it until it’s off for several hours.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the house cool. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the house through doors, windows and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to make use of window shades to block the sun, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.
