Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling 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.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and creates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will greatly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and duct leaks for instance, could all make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations as well. They usually utilize a combination of split or packaged compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by something called a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
The global effort to curb climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are other actions we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the air by a number of activities such as cleaning, cooking and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is essential to avoid these issues. This can be done by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and using a dehumidifier or humidifier based on the hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. For instance, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even a general malaise. While these symptoms can disappear after leaving the area, prolonged exposure could cause health problems that are already present and can even result in serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main aspect that influences IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the home, opening doors and windows whenever possible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you’d like to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk, and they can easily enter your nose, eyes and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky fog can reduce visibility and can cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors especially older houses with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can reduce the amount of smoke in the 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 business or home.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure you shut it off when air is smoky. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air, rather than recirculating it. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter that has a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specifically designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, 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 with this homeowners must examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. This method can save you up to 25 percent off your energy bill.
To make the house super cool, the homeowner sets their AC to lower temperatures in the morning, and then keeps it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the interior air. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is successful since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air inside the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners should ensure that their homes are properly constructed and insulated, and also insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use window coverings to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the daytime. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.
