Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of the modern age. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important aspects when choosing a new cooling system. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impacts. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much a unit can cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. You can find a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner that is new look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements as well. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They usually use an array of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may 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 by a Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually offer quick paybacks as well as incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key element of global efforts to mitigate climate change. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers want them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in structures, and these structures could pose significant health threats in the event that the indoor air quality is poor. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by a variety of activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is essential to avoid these issues. This can be achieved by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the area however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illnesses.
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, room occupancy rates, as well as the design of the structure. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This includes introducing plants in the home, opening doors and windows whenever possible, and making sure that the HVAC system works correctly. If you want to go further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to remove 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 invisible fine particles in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with lots of drafts and cracks. However, you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks around door frames and in the corners to slow down the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation mode, make sure to turn off when you are in a smokey environment. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of the air being recirculated inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specially designed to remove smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t have to use their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners should be aware of and look up their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. This method could save you as much as 25% on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning on and then leaves it running until it’s off for several hours.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window coverings to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest times of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to switch off or on.