Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and supplies possible.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting an air conditioner energy efficiency is a key aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways that include SEER and EER. 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 is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy consumption and costs in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems make use of a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning recommendations that provide quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling equipment is super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures can cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality is poor. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
A high level of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is essential to avoid these problems. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. These issues can be prevented 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 trigger headaches, concentration problems and general feeling of ill-health. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that affects IAQ. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the house, opening windows and doors whenever possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning properly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we suggest that you speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily get into your nose, eyes and throat, causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart problems. The invisible fine particles in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoke from getting into your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows the system to eliminate the smoke outside rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that can generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, be sure that those ducts are separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure they are effectively eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that have different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. Even with this, homeowners still need to be aware of their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at that temperature for a couple of hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should make use of window shades to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills low and not worry about forgetting to turn off the system or on.
