Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the past century. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs and also reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating 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”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has a high rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs in normal conditions in a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy use and costs.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. For example, high indoor humidity levels and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have particular energy efficiency considerations as well. They usually make use of a combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one central system. Verde has helped optimize the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning recommendations that provide quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We must ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings and these structures could pose significant health threats if the indoor air quality is not as good. There are many 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 common sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through various activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative effect on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in humid air, which can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in homes. For instance, a house with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows to let air flow in when needed.
The signs of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulty concentrating, and even general malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could worsen existing health issues and can even result in serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the home, opening doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works properly. If you’d prefer to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out 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 smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause a variety health effects, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors particularly in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to slow down the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure to switch it off when the air is smokey. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that could have high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, be sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they’re effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to be aware of and study their electric usage patterns and determine when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioner. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about stopping heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is essential that homeowners check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window coverings to block sun light particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the daytime. It is also important to make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Also, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.