Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most important inventions in the past century. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and produces huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the effects of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when choosing a new cooling system. The upgrade to a more efficient cooling system will lower your energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a new air conditioner look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs in normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating will greatly reduce your energy use and cost.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors as well. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, could all cause your system to perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations, too. They usually make use of an array of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to curb the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling equipment is super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures could cause serious health risks in the event that the indoor air quality is not as good. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent pollutants in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these issues. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and using the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. For instance, a house with high air pollutants can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. While these symptoms can be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room and the design. There are many ways to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows as often as possible, and making sure that the HVAC system works correctly. If you’d prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and can easily enter your nose, eyes and throat, causing symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. The invisible fine particles in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across most of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outside.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. However you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows the system to expel the smoke directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in removing the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. In fact, most 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 high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners should examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This strategy is successful because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is sealed and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use window coverings to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the daytime. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats that can assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to switch off or on.