Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions in the past century. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the effects of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and also reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating could reduce your energy costs and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and duct leaks for instance, could all cause your system to work harder and consume additional energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks 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 huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They might also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems within the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. We must ensure that cooling equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also improve the comfort of your home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated eyes or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, concentration problems and a general feeling of feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms will resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows as often as feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of chronic heart and lung conditions. The tiny particles of smoke can clog your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects, including aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or business.
If your HVAC system is in an recirculation mode, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that could generate high levels of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Choose a filter that has the minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of gaseous air pollution and smoke.
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 all times of the day. In fact, many energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners should take the time to analyze their electricity usage patterns to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and runs it until it’s off for several hours again.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other points that leak. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly constructed and insulated, and also make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also make use of window shades to block the sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles are in progress. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats that can assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without having to remember when to turn on or off the system.