Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the effects and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the score, 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 an air conditioner for the first time, choose one with a high rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy consumption and expenses.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations also. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, we can take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding, and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when necessary based on hygrometer readings.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. For example, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are kept open to let in air as required.
The symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulty concentrating, and even a general malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important aspect that influences IAQ. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of rooms and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the house, opening windows and doors as much as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’re looking to take it a a step further, we suggest that you talk to a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at filtering out biological contaminants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors, especially older homes with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This can cut down on the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that could produce high concentrations of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at all times of the day. In reality, the majority of power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to 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 an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, homeowners still need to take the time to analyze their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools down the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high, the homeowner will turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method is efficient because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also cover windows to block out sun, particularly in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also consider installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy costs at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.
