Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of modern history. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a crucial aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs, as well as reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings show how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner that is new pick one with an A+ rating. This rating shows how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating, it will greatly reduce your energy use and costs.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy ways to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems often use the combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems in the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on the quality of air. Moist air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent these issues it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier that is based on the hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. 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 avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are open for ventilation as needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This is influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. There are many ways to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the home, opening doors and windows as often as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works correctly. If you’re looking to take it a a step further, we suggest you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at filtering out biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. Smoke particles can cause variety health effects such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across much of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through windows and doors, especially in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to turn off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow your HVAC to expel the smokey indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that may generate high levels of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends 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 with the minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. In fact, many electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be sure to study their electric usage patterns and determine when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioning. This method could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few 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, he or she will turn up the temperature and leave it on until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window coverings to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight in the hottest times of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to stop air from escaping during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats that can aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This helps homeowners cut their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to switch on or off the system.
