Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips

Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of the modern age. They made summer blockbusters, wartime planes and supplies possible.

Cooling, however puts an enormous strain on the power system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and provides solutions.

Energy Efficiency

Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling unit. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on energy costs and also reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.

When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one with a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy use and cost.

Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.

Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems make use of a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.

Many of these systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.

The global effort to curb the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for many people who spend a large part of their lives inside buildings. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ and be a solution to common ailments like asthma, allergies, and fatigue.

Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.

The high levels of humidity can also create havoc on air quality. The humid air encourages the development of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.

In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also improve the comfort of your home. A home with high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when required.

The signs of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even general malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illnesses.

Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of rooms and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you’re looking to go a step further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.

Smoke Pollution

While central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily enter your nose, eyes, and throat which can cause symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lungs and heart.

The smoke blanketing New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outside.

There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through windows and doors, especially 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 windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or business.

If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure to shut it off when air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that can have high concentrations of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, be certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.

The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often in the event of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Choose a filter that has an MERV that is at least (MERV), which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.

Supercooling

Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t need to run air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.

This requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. Even so homeowners must be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.

To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost hours arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning up and runs it until it shuts off for a few hours again.

This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through doors, windows, and other leaky points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their homes are properly sealed and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use blinds to block sun light particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape 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 consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.