Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions of the past century. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however, places enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities 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 selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner that is new pick one with an excellent rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and use 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 considerations as well. These systems often make use of a combination of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into a single system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a major component of global efforts to combat climate change. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings and these structures can cause serious health risks when their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ and stop common issues like asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can thrive in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding and utilizing an air dehumidifier and humidifier if 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 homes. A home that has high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open doors and windows to let air flow in when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration, and a general feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and can even result in serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rate of rooms and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating correctly. For those who would like to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out most biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous, and they can easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The haze that covered 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 north and south of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause breathing problems for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoky air from entering your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. If you can, put wet towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure to turn it off when the air is smokey. This will allow your HVAC to take the smokey indoor air, rather than returning it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even with this homeowners must be aware of their electricity usage patterns to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the house cool. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their homes are properly sealed and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use blinds to block out sun particularly in areas that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.
