Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of electricity consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. 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 with a good SEER rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit performs in normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will greatly reduce your energy consumption and cost.
Other things can influence energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns also. They use a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. We need to ensure that cooling devices are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures can pose significant health threats in the event that their indoor air quality is poor. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common pollutants in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may have a negative impact on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can cause respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a lower level. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and using 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 increase the comfort in your home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a general feeling of ill-health. While these symptoms can disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, as well as the design of the building. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including adding plants to the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’d prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended to consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out most biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause variety of health problems like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across most of the north and south of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place wet towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air to the outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that may have high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are eliminating pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans with different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to be sure to study their electric usage patterns and determine the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. This strategy can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few hours. This cools the floors, walls furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air inside the home cooler. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block sun light, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest hours of the daytime. Additionally they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats that can assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to turn the system off or on.
