Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions in modern history. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more 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, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a good SEER rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy consumption and costs in the event that you replace an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. For example, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy steps to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems often make use of the combination of packaged or split compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They might also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
The global effort to curb the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling devices are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for those who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma, 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 are released into the air by a variety of activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative impact on air quality. Moist air encourages the development of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent these issues, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture, and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when necessary based on hygrometer readings.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as required.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, concentration problems and general malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate at which fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the house, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. For those who would prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can trigger a variety of health problems such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky fog can reduce visibility and may cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks and around door frames to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow the system eliminate the smoke outside, rather than returning it to inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners should be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at lower temperatures the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures, as well as the interior air. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioning on and runs it until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This method is efficient because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through doors, windows, and other leaky points. It is essential that homeowners check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window shades to block out sun particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the daytime. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to stop air from escaping during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats to aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to turn off the system or on.