Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most significant inventions of modern history. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is evaluated in a variety of ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool in a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating, 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, search for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other elements as well. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and use more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns also. They typically make use of an array of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can stop common issues like asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources of pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air through a variety of activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may have a negative impact on the quality of air. Moist air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a lower level. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. A home with high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as required.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. Although these symptoms may disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and can even result in serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, as well as the design of the building. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by adding plants to the house, opening the doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous and can easily get into your nose, eyes and throat, and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can cause a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing problems for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from entering your business or home through windows and doors especially older houses with many cracks and drafts. 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 smoke from outside air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure that you turn it off when the air is smoky. This allows your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that may generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, be sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to remove the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. In reality, the majority of energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different peak and off-peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, homeowners still need to be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. This could save you as much as 25% on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning on and leaves it running until it’s off for several hours.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window covers to block the sunlight, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.
