Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most significant inventions of the past century. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters, wartime planes and supplies possible.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and produces huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the 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 conditioner will save on your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner that is new look for one that has a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could reduce the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, could all cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple steps to increase your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They might also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all cooling and heating systems within the building into one central system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers want them. In the meantime we can take additional steps to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings and these structures could cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources for pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. A home with high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are open for ventilation as needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, concentration problems, and a general feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms can be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the house, opening the doors and windows as often as possible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working effectively. For those who would prefer more of a thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky fog can reduce visibility, and can cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors especially in older houses that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of the air being recirculated inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter that has the minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even so homeowners should take the time to analyze their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the interior air. Then, when peak energy-cost hours arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioning on and runs it until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is effective since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the house cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is properly sealed and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window coverings to block out sun, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest times of the day. Additionally it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn on or off the system.