Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most important inventions of the modern age. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will save on your energy bills and reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one with a high SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and costs.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors as well. For instance, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and use more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often utilize a combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to curb climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling devices are extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime we can also take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings and these structures could cause serious health risks when their indoor air quality is poor. There are fortunately numerous ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air due to a variety of activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is essential to avoid these problems. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings, and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and may lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by adding plants to the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and making sure that the HVAC system works effectively. For those who would prefer a more thorough approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke pose a risk, and they can easily get into your nose, eyes, and throat causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The tiny particles of smoke can clog your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure that you shut it off when air is smoky. This allows the system to eliminate the smoke outside, rather than returning it to inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing toxins from indoor air. Choose a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. In reality, the majority of power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners must be sure to examine their electricity usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. This strategy could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC at an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools down the floors, walls furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through windows, doors and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is constructed and insulated, and also make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should use window covers to block out the sun, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to stop air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.