Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of our time. They helped make summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other equipment possible.
Cooling, however, puts an enormous strain on the power system and generates massive quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the negative impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and reduce the 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 in a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time look for one that has an excellent rating. This rating reveals how efficiently the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy consumption and costs in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity as well as a lack of maintenance and duct leaks could all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy ways to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They typically use an array of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with an Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically have 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. We must ensure that cooling equipment is extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for those who spend a significant portion of their lives inside buildings. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ, which can stop common issues like asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air due to various activities, including cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also create destruction on the air quality. The humid air encourages the development of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these issues. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing furniture and bedding and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also improve the comfort of your home. For example, a home with high air pollutants can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are open for ventilation as required.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches, difficulty concentrating, and even a general malaise. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or even cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary aspect that influences IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the building. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introducing plants into the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working properly. If you’re looking to take it a one step further, we suggest that you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out most biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause 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 fine particles that are invisible in smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lungs and heart.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions across most of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and creates breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoke from entering your home or business through windows and doors, especially older homes with a lot of cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your business or home.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure you turn it off when the air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC system to exhaust the smoky indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts within your building which connect to areas that may produce high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure that those ducts are independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more often during smokey conditions to ensure they’re effectively removing the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to get rid of the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t require air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However even with this, homeowners must be aware of and examine their electricity consumption patterns and decide the most cost-effective time to run their air cooling system. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools the floors, walls furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours arrive, the homeowner turns the air conditioning on and then leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air in the home cooler. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the house through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window coverings to block out sun particularly those that receive direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest times of the day. They should also make sure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles occur. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to turn off the system or on.
