Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts immense strain on the electricity system and produces huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will save money on energy bills and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is assessed in various ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit can cool in a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit is. You can find a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner pick one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems too. A high humidity indoors, a insufficient maintenance and duct leaks for example, can all cause your system to be more demanding and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems often make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors with huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to reduce the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers want them. In the meantime we can also take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures can be a major health risk when their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are fortunately numerous ways to improve IAQ that can help prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies, and fatigue.
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 due to many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture at a minimum is crucial to avoid these issues. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier based on the hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. For instance, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger itchy skin, irritated eyes and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general malaise. Although these symptoms may be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate at which fresh air replaces stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. These include introducing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works properly. If you’re looking to go further, we suggest that you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can trigger a variety of health problems like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
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 outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure that you shut it off when air is smoky. This will allow your HVAC to take the smokey indoor air outside, rather than the air being recirculated. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Choose a filter that has the minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
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. The majority of 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 high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that can adjust automatically. However even with this, homeowners should take the time to look up their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. This strategy could save you as much as 25 percent off your energy bill.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the interior air. When peak energy-cost hours hit, the homeowner turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the house through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block the sun’s rays particularly in areas that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest hours of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to turn the system off or on.
