Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the past century. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing the right cooling system energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, such as SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings tell you how much an air conditioner can 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 located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a new air conditioner pick one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and costs.
Other things can influence the efficiency of air conditioning systems too. For example, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations, too. They typically use an array of packaged or split compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specific maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key element of global efforts to combat climate change. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three most common sources for pollution in modern homes and offices. These pollutants are released into the air through a variety of activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also create havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level at a minimum is crucial to avoid these problems. This can be done by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, soft furnishings and using a humidifier or dehumidifier that is based on the humidity gauge.
In addition to the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in homes. A home that has high levels of air pollutants, for example, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, and also a snoring sensation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate of fresh air replacing the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by installing plants in the home, opening doors and windows as often as possible, and making sure that the HVAC system works properly. If you’d like to take more of a thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal, and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and aggravate chronic lung and heart problems. Smoke particles can cause a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across 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.
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. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks and around door frames to reduce the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system is in the recirculation feature, make sure to switch it off during smoky conditions. This will allow your HVAC to exhaust the smoky indoor air instead of recirculating it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that these ducts are kept away from the rest of.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effectively removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV), which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to get rid of gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. In fact, most energy companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes in off-peak hours, so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to take the time to look up their electric consumption patterns and decide the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioner. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures, as well as the inside air. When the energy costs are at their peak homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. It is essential that homeowners check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window coverings to block sun light, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest hours of the daytime. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles. They should also think about installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.
