Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing an air conditioner, energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy costs and also reduce environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be found on its 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 reveals how efficiently the unit performs in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and expenses.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. High indoor humidity, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, can cause your system to perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns, too. They use a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They could also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by something called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems within the building into a single system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other actions we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures could pose significant health threats in the event that the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ, which can stop common issues like asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources for pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the air by a number of activities like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
The high levels of humidity can also create destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as necessary based on hygrometer readings.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. A home with high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and general unwellness. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rate and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introducing plants into the house, opening windows and doors as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out most biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke are very dangerous and easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues like bronchitis, as well as 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 for anyone who has to be outside.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors, especially in older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation mode, make sure to switch it off during smoky conditions. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air instead of recirculating it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like parking garages or loading docks, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are removing pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
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 power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to be sure to look up their electric consumption patterns and decide when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioning. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that setting 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. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy is effective because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight in the hottest times of the day. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy consumption without having to remember when to turn off or on the system.
