Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large demand on electric systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and save money on energy bills and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. You can locate a system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are looking for a new air conditioner look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs under normal conditions during 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 energy efficiency in air conditioning systems too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, insufficient maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can cause your system to work harder and consume additional 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 issues. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They could also have steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into a single system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other steps to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. 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 main pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air through various activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a low level. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the 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 pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and making sure that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, problems with concentration and general malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even trigger serious health issues.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces stale air, a process known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather conditions, the room occupancy rate, and the design. There are simple methods to improve IAQ. These include adding plants to the home, opening the doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’re looking to go further, we recommend that you consult a Comfort Specialist for an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However, they do not remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoky air from entering your home or business through windows and doors, especially older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut the amount of smoky 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 business or home.
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 to the outside, rather than returning it. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) that is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to eliminate smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at all times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes in off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even so homeowners should examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the interior air. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioner up and then leaves it running until it’s off for several hours.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the house cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is properly constructed and insulated, and also insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also cover windows to block out sunlight, particularly in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. It is also important to ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy bills without having to remember when to turn on or off the system.
