Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most important inventions of modern history. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is a key aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on expenses for energy and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit is able to cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system 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 with a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will lower your energy costs and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of systems by providing retrocommissioning recommendations that provide quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can take additional measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and ensure that the moisture level remains at a lower level. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. For example, a home with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when required.
The signs of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or a general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the area however prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate at which fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, the room occupancy rate, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introduction of plants into the home and opening doors and windows as much as possible and making sure that the HVAC system is functioning correctly. If you’d like to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and can cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outside.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoke from entering your home or business through windows and doors particularly older homes with a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has the ability to recirculate air, be sure to turn it off when the air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside, rather than returning it. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, you should be sure to have those ducts separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to remove smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based off the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners should be sure to examine their electricity usage patterns and figure out the best time to run their air conditioning. This could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their air conditioner at lower temperatures the next morning and then 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. Then, when peak energy-cost hours arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and runs it until it’s off for several hours.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should use window covers to block the sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop 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 keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to turn off the system or on.