Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most important inventions of the history of modern times. They made wartime and summer blockbusters and other supplies possible.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the impact of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is an important factor. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit can cool in a given amount of power consumed. 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”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one with a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. If you’re replacing an older model, a higher SEER rating will significantly reduce your energy use and expenses.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Large commercial cooling systems have particular energy efficiency considerations also. They use a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specific maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems within the building into a single system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want them. In the meantime, we can take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a large part of their lives inside buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening it is crucial to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a minimum. This can be achieved by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidity gauge.
Apart from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, concentration problems and a general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space, but prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces stale air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including adding plants to the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. For those who would prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds 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 enter your eyes, nose, and throat causing symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause a variety of health problems, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions across most of the north and south of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and can cause respiratory distress for anyone who has to be outside.
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. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features the ability to recirculate air, be sure you shut it off when air is smokey. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air to the outside instead of the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks or parking garages You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are effectively removing pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specifically designed to remove gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. In fact, most electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be aware of and examine their electricity usage patterns and determine when it’s most cost-effective to run their air cooling system. A lot of people save 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and maintains it at that temperature for a couple of hours. This cools the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy is successful 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. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should make use of window shades to block the sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also think about using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This helps homeowners cut their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to turn off or on the system.