Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit. You can find a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can reduce the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect energy efficiency in air conditioning systems too. High indoor humidity, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for example, can all make your system be more demanding and consume more energy. Routine 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 concerns also. These systems use a combination packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems within the building into one central system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to mitigate climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings, and these structures can be a major health risk when the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter, 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 atmosphere through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. To avoid these issues, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidity gauge.
In addition to the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. 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.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure can cause health problems that are already present and could lead to serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing stale air, a process known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, the room occupancy rate and the design. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the house, opening the doors and windows as often as possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working properly. If you want to go a step further, we suggest that you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions across most of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through doors and windows particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off when the air is smoking. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside instead of returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building which connect to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like attached parking garages and loading docks, you should be certain to have these ducts separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are removing pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter that has an MERV that is at least (MERV) which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to get rid of smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. In fact, many electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so homeowners must be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many homeowners save around 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools down the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other leaky areas. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should cover windows to block the sun, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also, they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles are in progress. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.
