Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions of the past century. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other supplies possible.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems too. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and use more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems often use the combination of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped optimize the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can take additional steps to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings and these structures could be a major health risk in the event that their indoor air quality is poor. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
High levels of moisture can have a negative impact on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew which can cause respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in the home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause 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 windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration and a general feeling of feeling of ill-health. The symptoms can resolve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor quality air can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rate and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. This includes introducing plants in the house, opening the windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you want to go one step further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at filtering out biological pollutants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke pose a risk and can easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across most of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely block smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can reduce the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks in order to slow the movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure that you shut it off when air is smoky. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside, rather than the air being recirculated inside. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are eliminating pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes in off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners must be aware of and study their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the inside air. When energy costs are high the homeowner, he or she will turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block out the sun, particularly in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy costs at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.
