Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of the modern age. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However cooling puts a huge demand on electric systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners 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. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations also. They usually make use of a combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other actions we can take to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cleaning, cooking, and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a lower level. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when required based on readings from hygrometers.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. For example, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even a general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illness.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing stale air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and 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 ensuring that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you’re looking to take it a a step further, we suggest that you speak with a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause a variety health effects such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors especially older houses with lots of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside rather than returning it to inside. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance loading docks or parking garages it is important to ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest of.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to remove gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. Even with this, homeowners still need to examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This method could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their AC to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at that temperature for a couple of hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the interior air. Then, when peak energy-cost hours arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioner up and then leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is effective because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window shades to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.