Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is a crucial aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are looking for an air conditioner for the first time pick one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs during a season under normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating, it will greatly reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. High indoor humidity, the absence of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, could all cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems use a combination split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems within the building into a single system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling equipment to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional steps to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative impact on the quality of air. Moist air encourages the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a minimum. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase comfort in your home. For instance, a house with high air pollutants can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated 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 doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration and a general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can exacerbate existing health conditions and may lead to serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introduction of plants into the house, opening windows and doors whenever possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating effectively. For those who would like to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congested nasal, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The tiny particles of smoke can clog your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across much of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with many cracks and drafts. However you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. If you can, put wet towels on the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air outside instead of returning it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing toxins from indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specifically designed to remove the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, many energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t have to use their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners must take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a couple of hours. This cools down the floors, walls furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioning up and leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is effective since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the home cooler. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use blinds to block out sun particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the daytime. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles occur. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats that can help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy bills without having to remember when to turn off or on the system.
