Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions of modern history. They made wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the effects of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy costs and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for example, can all make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into a single system. Verde has helped optimize the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning recommendations that provide rapid paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory issues. To avoid these issues, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and ensure that the moisture level remains at a low level. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. For instance, a house with high air pollutants can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general 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 primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introducing plants into the house, opening windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you’d prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are effective at filtering out biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lungs, triggering a variety of health issues, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow your HVAC to exhaust the smoky indoor air to the outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that can produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make sure to have those ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. Most energy companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be sure to study their electric usage patterns and figure out the best time to run their air cooling system. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC to a lower temperature the next 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 the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is effective because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window coverings to block sun light, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest parts of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats that can help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.
