Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the past century. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and produces huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the effects of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units 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 electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating can lower the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems often make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors that have huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to reduce climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources of pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants are released into the air by a variety of activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is key to preventing these issues. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings, and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in a home. A home with high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can be relieved after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather conditions, the room occupancy rate, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows as much as possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning properly. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they’re not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing problems for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This can reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. Place damp towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure to switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside instead of returning it to inside. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that may generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In reality, the majority of electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so homeowners should examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To make the house super cool, the homeowner sets their AC to lower temperatures in the morning, and then keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it’s off for several hours again.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It’s important to prevent heat from getting into your home through windows, doors, and other leaky points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should cover windows to block out the sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to start and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy bills without having to remember when to switch on or off the system.