Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions of the past century. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the negative impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating could lower the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems often make use of the combination of split or packaged compressors with huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems within the building into one central system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
The global effort to curb the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for those who spend a large part of their lives in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, 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 due to many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a lower level. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are open for ventilation as needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and may lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the home opening up windows and doors as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning correctly. If you’re looking to go further, we recommend that you speak with a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they are not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of the severity of heart and lung problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors especially in older houses that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoky ai.
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 take the smokey indoor air to the outside, rather than returning it. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that can produce high concentrations of contaminants, such as 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 frequently during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are eliminating pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. In reality, the majority of energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However even with this, homeowners should take the time to study their electric usage patterns and figure out the best time to run their air conditioner. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high homeowners, they turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. 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 shades to block sun light, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats that can assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.
