Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions of the past century. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and generates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool using a certain 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 you are looking for a new air conditioning system, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit will perform in normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and cost.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements too. For example, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns as well. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems within the building into one central system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for those who spend a large part of their lives inside buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these problems. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture, and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase comfort in your home. For instance, a house with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and a general malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even cause serious illness.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces old air, a process known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and the design of the building. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works properly. If you’d prefer more of a thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate lung and heart conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across much of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from entering your home or business through doors and windows particularly older homes with lots of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. Place damp towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to stop the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure that you turn it off when the air is smokey. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks or parking garages You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans with different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires a thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, homeowners still need to examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This strategy can save you up to 25 percent off your energy bill.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a couple of hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioner up and then leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their homes are properly constructed and insulated, and also make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window coverings to block the sun’s rays, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest hours of the daytime. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. They should also consider installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn off or on the system.