Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions in the past century. They helped make summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing an air conditioner energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool in a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy consumption and expenses.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other elements as well. For instance high levels of indoor humidity as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They might also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling devices are efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can also take other steps to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter and 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 many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also wreak destruction on the air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a low level. The best way to achieve this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also improve the comfort of your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, concentration problems, and a general unwellness. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illness.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing old air, a process known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. There are many ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by adding plants to the home, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across much of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoky air from entering your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with lots of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. 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 an recirculation mode, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during smokey conditions to ensure they are effectively eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In fact, many energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t have to use their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However, even with this, homeowners should take the time to examine their electricity usage patterns and figure out when it’s most cost-effective to run their air cooling system. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To supercool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit, the homeowner will turn up the temperature and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy is successful since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the house cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is constructed and insulated, and also make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using blinds to block out sun particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight in the hottest hours of the daytime. Additionally it is important to ensure that all windows and doors 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 start and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without having to remember when to turn off or on the system.