Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most significant inventions of our time. They helped make wartime and summer blockbusters and supplies possible.
Cooling, however, places immense strain on the electricity system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrading to an efficient air cooling system will lower your energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool in a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system 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 reveals how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and cost.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements as well. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. They typically use an array of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into a single system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We must ensure that cooling equipment is super-efficient and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings, and these structures can cause serious health risks in the event that the indoor air quality is poor. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent sources of pollution in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cleaning, cooking and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, which can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is essential to avoid these problems. This can be done by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. A home with high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes as well as a stuffy sensation. 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 whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or a general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and can even result in serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather conditions, the room occupancy rate and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the house and opening doors and windows as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning correctly. For those who would prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested to consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eye, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can trigger a variety health effects, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outside.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent smoke from getting into your business or home through windows and doors particularly older homes with many drafts and cracks. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut down on the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. Place wet towels in the cracks and around door frames to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation mode, make sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air outside, rather than recirculating it. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages it is important to ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to remove the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However homeowners should take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at that temperature for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the interior air. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other points that leak. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should consider using blinds to block the sun’s rays particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the daytime. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles are in progress. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to turn off the system or on.