Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most important inventions in modern history. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and produces 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 among the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Making the switch to a more efficient air cooling system will lower your energy bills and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit. You can locate a system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and duct leaks for example, can all cause your system to be more demanding and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are easy ways to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. They usually make use of an array of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems of the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling equipment is extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for those who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most common pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on the quality of air. Mold and mildew can grow in humid air, and can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture at a lower level. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidity gauge.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes and also a snoring sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulty concentrating, and even general malaise. These symptoms may resolve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the house, opening windows and doors as much as possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you want to go further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The invisible fine particles in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who must be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors especially in older houses with many 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 will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks in order to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure that you switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system to eliminate the smoke outside instead of returning it to inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance parking garages or loading docks, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. Most energy companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t need to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners must examine their electricity usage patterns to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. Then, when the 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.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the daytime. Also, they should ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats that can 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 off or on the system.