Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions in the history of modern times. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and creates massive quantities of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills, as well as reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways, including SEER and EER. 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. You can find a system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner pick one with a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact energy efficiency in air conditioning systems too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations, too. They usually use a combination of split or packaged compressors and massive pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into one central system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We need to ensure that cooling equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in structures, and these structures could cause serious health risks if their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can also have a negative impact on the quality of air. 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 problems. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and using a dehumidifier or humidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, concentration problems and general malaise. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or even cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important aspect that influences IAQ. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including adding plants to the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working effectively. For those who would prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke pose a risk and can easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. Smoke particles can cause a variety health effects like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout large parts of the north and south of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outside.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through windows and doors especially in older houses with many cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off when the air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air, rather than returning it. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure that they are effective in taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specifically designed to remove smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most energy companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, homeowners still need to be aware of their electricity usage patterns to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This method can save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and runs it until it shuts off for a few hours.
This strategy is successful since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the house cooler. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should make use of window shades to block out sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles. Also, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.