Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other equipment possible.
Cooling, however puts an enormous strain on the power system and produces huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Making the switch to a more efficient air conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. You can locate a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
If you are looking for an air conditioner for the first time pick one with an excellent rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating can reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes too. A high humidity indoors, a lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for example, can all make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are simple steps to increase your system’s energy efficiency.
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 in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can also take other steps to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ that can help prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities such as cleaning, cooking and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a low level. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase the comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches difficulty in concentrating, and a general malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the primary aspect that influences IAQ. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by introducing plants in the home, opening the windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’d prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological contaminants like molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and 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 aggravate lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across most of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and can cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoky air from entering your business or home through windows and doors particularly older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30 percent. If you can, put wet towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the flow of smoke into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure to switch it off when the air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC to exhaust the smoky indoor air to the outside instead of the air being recirculated. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks or parking garages it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to eliminate gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have 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 those high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. Even with this, homeowners still need to examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This method could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit, the homeowner will increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy is effective since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the home cooler. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is properly constructed and insulated, and also cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should use window covers to block out the sun, especially in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy bills without worrying about forgetting when to turn on or off the system.
