Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in the past century. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and cost.
Other things can influence the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For instance, high indoor humidity levels as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems often utilize the combination of packaged or split compressors and massive pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers want these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for those who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ and stop common issues like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter and 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, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may have a negative impact on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. To prevent these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase comfort in your home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are open for ventilation as required.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even a general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, as well as the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introduction of plants into the house, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective in removing biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congested nasal, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a range of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outside.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. 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 can cut down on the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. If you can, put wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure you turn it off when the air is smoky. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that can produce high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends 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 that has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours so they don’t need to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, homeowners still need to be aware of their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To make the house super cool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through doors, windows and other points that leak. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window coverings to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the daytime. Additionally they should ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.