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 movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However cooling puts a huge strain on electricity systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the impact and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting an air conditioner, energy efficiency is an important aspect. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will save on your energy bills and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of power consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs in normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating can reduce the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors too. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency concerns. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems, that require special maintenance to keep 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), which integrates all heating and cooling systems within the building into a single system. Verde has helped clients optimize the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to reduce the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings and these structures could pose significant health threats in the event that their indoor air quality is not as good. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
A high level of humidity can also create havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level low is key to preventing these issues. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and using a dehumidifier or humidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase comfort in your home. For instance, a house with a lot of air pollution can be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration and a general feeling of unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor air quality could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ, including introduction of plants into the home opening up windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating correctly. For those who would like to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent in removing biological pollutants such as molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander and mold. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up smoke from wildfires are extremely dangerous and can easily get into your eyes, nose and throat, and cause symptoms such as burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. 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 that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions throughout much of the north and south of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoke from getting into your business or home through doors and windows particularly older homes with lots of cracks and drafts. However you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to stop the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure to switch it off when the air is smoky. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside rather than recirculating it inside. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are eliminating pollutants from the air in your home. 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
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. In fact, many energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak hours, so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners should be aware of and look up their electric consumption patterns and decide the best time to run their air conditioning. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills through this method.
To keep the home cool homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the inside air. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the house cool. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. It is crucial that homeowners double-check the insulation of their home and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block out sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.
