Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in modern history. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs, as well as reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioning units are rated according to a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how the air conditioner is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will lower the cost of energy and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient 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 susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. These systems often utilize a combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled by a Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime, there are a variety of steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings and these structures could be a major health risk if their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, including cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew which can cause respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a low level. The best way to achieve this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding, and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase the comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a area, prolonged exposure could exacerbate existing health conditions and may lead to serious health issues.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning effectively. If you’d like to take more of a thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are great in removing biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous, and they can easily enter your eyes, nose, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing problems for those who has to be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely block smoke from entering your home or business through windows and doors particularly older homes with many cracks and drafts. However, you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure that you switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system eliminate the smoke outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that may have high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV), which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to eliminate gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours so they don’t need to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat that can adjust automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be aware of and look up their electric usage patterns and determine when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioning. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools the walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the inside air. Then, when the peak energy-cost hours arrive the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours.
This method is efficient because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s important to prevent heat from entering your home through doors, windows, and other leaky points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should consider using blinds to block out sun particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This helps homeowners cut their energy costs without worrying about forgetting when to turn off or on the system.