Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are among the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They helped make wartime and summer blockbusters and supplies possible.
However cooling places a significant demand on electric systems and generates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is evaluated in a variety of ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool in a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit is. 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 an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has an A+ rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit performs in normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will significantly reduce your energy use and costs.
Other factors can impact energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns, too. They usually use the combination of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance in order to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key element of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We must ensure that cooling devices are extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources of pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities like cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger respiratory issues and allergies.
The high levels of humidity can also create havoc on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these problems. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in homes. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritated eyes or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows for ventilation whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that affects IAQ. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of rooms and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the home opening up windows and doors as much as is possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we suggest that you speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congested nasal, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and cause worsening of heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The invisible fine particles in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a range of health issues, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the north and south of the United States. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who must be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to slow the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside instead of returning it to inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, like parking garages or loading docks You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are effectively removing toxins from indoor air. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. Even with this homeowners must be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and keep it there for a few hours. This cools the walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning on and then leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home cool. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window coverings to block out sun particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the daytime. Additionally they should ensure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats that can aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.
