Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of our time. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of this demand, and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a unit 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 excellent rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can reduce your energy costs and consumption if you are replacing an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems too. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations also. They usually utilize an array of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have quick paybacks and incentives to implement.
The global effort to reduce the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling appliances are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives in buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of actions such as cleaning, cooking and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of humidity can also cause havoc on air quality. Moist air encourages the development of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidity gauge.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can increase comfort in a home. For example, a home with high air pollutants can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritated eyes or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even a general malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illnesses.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces the old air, a process referred to as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the structure. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. These include introducing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows as often as possible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating effectively. For those who would prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at filtering out biological contaminants like bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However they are not able to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen lung and heart conditions that are chronic. The invisible fine particles in smoke can clog your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as aggravated asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout most of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through doors and windows particularly in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce 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. If possible, place wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure that you switch it off when the air is smokey. This will allow your HVAC to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside, rather than recirculating it. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance parking garages or loading docks it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest of.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions in order to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are designed to remove gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at any given time of the day. In fact, most 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 those high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However homeowners must examine their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This strategy could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner sets their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning, and then keeps it at that setting for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the inside air. When peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioner up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours again.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s also about stopping heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block out the sunlight, particularly in areas that receive direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Also they should ensure that all doors and windows are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats that can help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy costs without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.
