Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most important inventions of the modern age. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other supplies possible.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity 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 a new cooling system, energy efficiency is an important factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the score, 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 a brand new air conditioning system, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit will perform in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will significantly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by something called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into a single system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually offer quick paybacks as well as incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to reduce climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime we can take additional measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures can pose significant health threats if their indoor air quality is poor. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ that can help prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources of pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the development of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a lower level. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes and also a snoring sensation. 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.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, difficulty concentrating and a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the main factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the home, opening windows and doors as much as is possible and making sure that the HVAC system is functioning properly. For those who would prefer a more thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective in removing biological contaminants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and can easily enter your eyes, nose, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions across much of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing problems for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system has the ability to recirculate air, be sure that you turn it off when the air is smokey. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that can generate high levels of pollutants, like attached parking garages and loading docks, be sure that those ducts are independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. In fact, most electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. Even so homeowners should be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. This strategy could save you up to 25 percent off your energy bill.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high the homeowner, he or she will turn the air conditioning up and leave it on until the next time it’s shut off.
This method is efficient because it doesn’t only mean making the air inside the home cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window covers to block out the sun, 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. They should also consider installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.
