Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However cooling places a significant demand on electric systems and creates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. You can locate a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
If you are looking for an air conditioner for the first time pick one with a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Other things can influence the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations, too. They use a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of 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 equipment is extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime, there are a variety of actions we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in structures, and these structures can cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality is not as good. Fortunately, there are many ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air by a number of activities like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these issues. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and utilizing an air dehumidifier and humidifier if needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introduction of plants into the home opening up windows and doors as much as possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating correctly. For those who would prefer to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. Smoke particles can trigger 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 that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoky air from entering your business or home through windows and doors especially older houses with many cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure that you turn it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside rather than returning it to inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in removing the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the notion that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at any time of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However even with this, homeowners should be sure to examine their electricity usage patterns and figure out the best time to run their air conditioning. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To cool the house, the homeowner should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the air inside. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning on and runs it until it is turned off for several hours again.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It also aims to prevent heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window shades to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest hours of the daytime. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly 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 will allow homeowners to keep their energy costs at a minimum without having to remember to switch off or on.
