Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They made summer blockbusters possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts enormous strain on the electricity system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when choosing a new cooling system. The upgrade to a more efficient cooling system will lower your energy bills and 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 much an air conditioner can cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has an excellent rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit can perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors as well. High indoor humidity, lack of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can make your system be more demanding and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns as well. They usually make use of the combination of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specific maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
A lot of these huge 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 been able to improve the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to reduce the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures could pose significant health threats in the event that the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of humidity can also create destruction on the air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is essential to avoid these problems. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, washing bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulties in concentrating, or a general feeling of malaise. Although these symptoms may be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and may lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rate, and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introducing plants into the home, opening windows and doors whenever possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. If you’d prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are excellent at filtering out biological pollutants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander, and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous, and they can easily get into your eyes, nose, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. The tiny particles of smoke can get stuck in your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions throughout most of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from entering your home through doors and windows especially in older houses that have a lot of cracks and drafts. 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 will reduce the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. If you can, put wet towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure you shut it off when air is smoking. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air, rather than returning it. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that could generate high levels of pollutants, like attached parking garages and loading docks, make certain to have these ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively removing the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specifically designed to eliminate gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at all times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners should be sure to look up their electric usage patterns and determine the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioner. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling, floors, furnishings and fixtures, as well as the inside air. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will turn up the temperature and leave it on until the next time it is shut off.
This strategy is effective because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should consider using blinds to block the sun’s rays, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest times of the daytime. Also they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Also, 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 helps homeowners cut their energy bills without worrying about forgetting when to turn off or on the system.