Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, places enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing the right cooling system energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are looking for an air conditioner for the first time, choose one with a high rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and expenses.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements too. A high humidity indoors, a lack of maintenance and duct leaks, for example, can all make your system be more demanding and consume more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks are simple steps to increase your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems use a combination packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally, many of these large systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives to implement.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for those who spend a large part of their lives in buildings. There are fortunately a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can be a solution to common ailments like asthma, 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 offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of actions such as cleaning, cooking and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be achieved by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidity gauge.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration and general unwellness. While these symptoms can disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather, the room occupancy rate, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’re looking to take it a a step further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are excellent at removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However, they do not remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada, and it is causing dangerous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoke from getting into your business or home through doors and windows, especially older homes with many 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 in the outside air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks and around door frames to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system is in the recirculation feature, make sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow your HVAC to take the smokey indoor air outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, like parking garages or loading docks, you should ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they’re effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Choose a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to eliminate gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. In reality, the majority of energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak periods.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners should be aware of and study their electric consumption patterns and decide the best time to run their air cooling system. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC to a lower temperature the next morning and keep it there for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and then leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours again.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s also about preventing heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should use window covers to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Additionally, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting when to turn off or on the system.