Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions in the past century. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs, as well as reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. You can locate a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When looking for a new air conditioner look for one that has a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform in normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating, it will greatly reduce your energy use and cost.
Other factors can affect energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They usually use the combination of packaged or split compressors with huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by something called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to reduce climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is essential to avoid these problems. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, soft furnishings and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also improve the comfort of your home. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger itchy skin, irritated eyes and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
The signs of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may disappear after leaving the area, prolonged exposure could worsen existing health issues and can even result in 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 improve IAQ, including introduction of plants into the house and opening doors and windows as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning correctly. If you’d prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out most biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoky air from getting into your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with lots of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that can produce high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages with attached loading docks, make certain to have these ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to eliminate smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at all times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners should examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC to a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s 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 entering your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should cover windows to block out the sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without having to remember when to turn off or on the system.
