Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips

Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in the history of modern times. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and supplies possible.

However cooling places a significant demand on electric systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand and offers solutions.

Energy Efficiency

When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.

When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy use and expenses.

Other factors can impact energy efficiency in air conditioning systems too. A high humidity indoors, a insufficient maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, could all make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the efficiency of your system.

Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.

A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of these systems by providing 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 highly efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers want them. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a large part of their lives inside buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.

Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

High levels of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in humid air, which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity 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 utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.

In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase comfort in your home. For instance, a home with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when needed.

Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and may lead to serious illness.

The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate at which fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introduction of plants into the house and opening doors and windows as much as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working properly. For those who would prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.

Smoke Pollution

While central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out most biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they are not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and cause worsening of the severity of heart and lung problems. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.

The smoke blanketing New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing problems for those who must be outdoors.

There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.

Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks to slow the flow of smoke into your home or office.

If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure to turn it off when the air is smoking. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air instead of returning it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks and parking garages it is important to ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.

The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during smokey conditions to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are designed to remove gases and smoke contaminants.

Supercooling

In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the notion that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at any time of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that have different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak times so that they don’t have to use their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.

This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can be adjusted automatically. Even with this homeowners must be aware of their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.

To supercool the home homeowners should set their AC to lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours.

This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about stopping heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window coverings to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also, they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats that can aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.

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