Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most significant inventions of our time. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, puts immense strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting the right cooling system, energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner for the first time pick one with an excellent rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs in normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy consumption and costs if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors too. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often utilize the combination of split or packaged 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.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to curb the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling devices are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is an important health issue for many people who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can stop common issues like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of humidity can also create havoc on air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew which can cause respiratory problems. To prevent these issues, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a minimum. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing an air dehumidifier and humidifier if necessary based on hygrometer readings.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. A home with high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to 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 whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general malaise. While these symptoms can be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed that fresh air replaces old air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would like to take more of a thorough approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a range of health effects, including worsened 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 can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoke from entering your home or business through windows and doors particularly older homes with many cracks and drafts. However, you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure that you shut it off when air is smoking. This allows the system to expel the smoke directly outside instead of recirculating it inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that these ducts are kept away from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or more. These filters are designed to eliminate gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this, homeowners still need to take the time to analyze their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. This method could save you as much as 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures, as well as the inside air. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning up and then leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other leaky areas. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is properly insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block the sun, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also think about installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to turn the system off or on.