Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They made summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant strain on electricity systems and causes huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, including 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. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy costs and consumption in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder 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. These systems use a combination packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in structures, and these structures could be a major health risk in the event that their indoor air quality is not as good. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ that can help prevent common problems such as asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
The high levels of humidity can also create havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can enhance the comfort in a home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause itchy skin, irritated eyes and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
The signs of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches difficulty concentrating, and even general malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or even trigger serious illness.
Ventilation is the main aspect that influences IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room and the design. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. This includes installing plants in the home, opening the windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’d 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
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and exacerbate the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can cause a range of health issues like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes respiratory stress for anyone who must be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoke from entering your home or business through doors and windows particularly older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow the system to eliminate the smoke outside instead of recirculating it inside. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. In reality, the majority of electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, so they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even with this homeowners must examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is the most efficient. This can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC at an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours arrive, the homeowner 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 making the air inside the home cool. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block the sun, particularly in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.
