Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of the modern age. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the impact and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors to consider when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs 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 indicate how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one that has a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs in normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will lower your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Other things can influence energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. They typically utilize an array of packaged or split compressors with huge pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems, that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by what’s called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all cooling and heating systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to curb 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 introduce super-efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can take additional measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a major health risk for those who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also wreak havoc on air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a low level. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if required based on readings from hygrometers.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. A home that has high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, problems with concentration and a general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure can worsen existing health issues and may lead to serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing the old air, a process known as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introducing plants into the home opening up windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’re looking to go further, we suggest that you talk to a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke pose a risk, and they can easily get into your nose, eyes, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions across most of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who must be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. 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 smoky outside air by 30%. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows the system to expel the smoke directly outside instead of recirculating it inside. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, make sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure that they are effective in taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However, even with this, homeowners must be sure to study their electric usage patterns and figure out when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioner. This could save you as much as 25 percent off your energy bill.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and keep it there for a few hours. This cools the walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioner up and leaves it running until it’s off for several hours again.
This strategy is effective because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate 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 times of the daytime. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn on or off the system.
