Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of the modern age. They made wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
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 effects and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. You can locate a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy consumption and costs if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and use more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple steps to increase your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by the use of a Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ, which can be a solution to common ailments like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through various activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can have a negative impact on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can cause respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase comfort in your 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 to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration, and a general malaise. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or even trigger serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing the old air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by adding plants to the home opening up windows and doors as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would prefer a more thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are excellent in removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lungs and heart.
The haze that covered 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 south and north of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with many drafts and cracks. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your business or home.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure to switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow your HVAC to take the smokey indoor air outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building which connect to areas that could generate high levels of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, you should be sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to eliminate gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours so they don’t need to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak times.
This method requires a thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. Even with this homeowners must take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the house cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the house through doors, windows and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window coverings to block out sun, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest times of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.
