Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most significant inventions of our time. They helped make summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand, 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’ll save money on energy bills, as well as reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how the air conditioner is able to cool using a specific amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. You can find a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are looking for a new air conditioner, choose one with an excellent rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating can reduce your energy consumption and costs if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors too. For instance, high indoor humidity levels and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. They usually make use of an array of split or packaged compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling devices are extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are a variety of actions we can take to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a large part of their lives in buildings. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources of pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can lead to respiratory problems. To avoid these issues, it is important to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as required.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a general unwellness. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illnesses.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing the old air, a process known as ventilation. This is influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the home, opening windows and doors whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating effectively. For those who would like to take a more thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and 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 cause worsening of chronic lung and heart problems. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lungs and heart.
The smoke blanketing 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 dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing problems for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely block smoky air from getting into your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. Place wet towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This allows the system to eliminate the smoke outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks and parking garages it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
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 air inside. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However homeowners should examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. This method could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will turn the air conditioning up and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is sealed and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use blinds to block the sun’s rays particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest hours of the day. Also it is important to ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also think about installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy consumption without having to remember when to turn off or on the system.
