Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of our time. They made summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrading to an efficient air cooling system will lower your energy bills and reduce environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. 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 a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are looking for a new air conditioner, choose one with a high rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will greatly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns as well. These systems use a combination split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled with a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning recommendations that provide rapid paybacks.
The global effort to reduce climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings, and these structures could cause serious health risks if their indoor air quality is not as good. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is key to preventing these problems. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. For example, a home with high air pollutants can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are open for ventilation as needed.
The signs of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or a general malaise. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor quality air can aggravate existing health issues or even trigger serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the home, opening windows and doors whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’d like to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing dangerous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who has 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 many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to switch it off during smoky conditions. This will allow the system 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 loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. In fact, most electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even so homeowners must examine their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To make the house super cool homeowners, they set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will increase the temperature of the air conditioner, and leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It’s important to prevent heat from getting into your home through windows, doors and other leaky areas. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their homes are properly insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to turn the system off or on.