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 helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing an air conditioner, energy efficiency is a crucial aspect. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is evaluated in a variety of ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. 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 system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs during the course of a season in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy use and expenses.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to reduce the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, we can take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures can be a major health risk when the indoor air quality is poor. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources for pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants are released into the air through various activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may have a negative impact on air quality. Moisture can encourage the development of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is essential to avoid these problems. This can be achieved by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase comfort in your home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are open for ventilation as needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, concentration problems and general malaise. Although these symptoms may resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could exacerbate existing health conditions and may lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introducing plants into the house opening up windows and doors as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you’d prefer a more thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke are very dangerous and can easily enter your eyes, nose, and throat causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause a variety health effects like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from getting into your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure that you switch it off when the air is smoking. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside instead of the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that may produce high concentrations of pollutants, like attached parking garages and loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In reality, the majority of electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, 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 need to be sure to look up their electric usage patterns and figure out the best time to run their air conditioner. This could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioner up and leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the home cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should make use of window shades to block the sun, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without having to remember when to turn on or off the system.