Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most important inventions of our time. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts immense strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your energy bills and reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool in a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be found on the 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 in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will reduce the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors too. A high humidity indoors, a lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for example, can all cause your system to be more demanding and consume more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are simple steps to increase your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often utilize a combination of split or packaged compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers are demanding 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
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources of pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
The high levels of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. Moist air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these issues. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in the home. For example, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulty in concentrating, and a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can be relieved after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could exacerbate existing health conditions and may lead to serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing stale air, a process known as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows as much as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning properly. If you want to go further, we suggest that you speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and can easily enter your eyes, nose, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. The invisible fine particles in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
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 throughout large parts of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outside.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. However, you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure that you switch it off when the air is smokey. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside, rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that may generate high levels of contaminants, such as parking garages with attached loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently during times of smoke to ensure they’re effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to remove gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In reality, the majority of electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so homeowners must take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This strategy could save you as much as 25 percent on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set 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 walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning up and leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about stopping heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should cover windows to block the sunlight, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles are in progress. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy costs low without worrying about forgetting to turn off the system or on.
