Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies as well as airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing an air conditioner energy efficiency is a crucial factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and also reduce your environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much a unit is able to cool with a certain amount of electricity consumed. 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”.
If you are in the market for a new air conditioner, choose one with a high rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older, a higher SEER rating will greatly reduce your energy use and cost.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks could all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations, too. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally to that, many of these huge systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems within the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a major component of global efforts to reduce climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling appliances to market, and that consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, there are a variety of actions we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in structures, and these structures could be a major health risk if 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, etc.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause respiratory issues and allergies.
High levels of humidity can also create destruction on the air quality. Moist air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these problems. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as necessary based on hygrometer readings.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase the comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to the eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, ensuring the health of the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are open for ventilation as required.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and general unwellness. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the area, but prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that affects IAQ. This is influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, as well as the design of the structure. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by introducing plants in the home, opening the windows and doors whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working correctly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we suggest you speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, including bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and cause worsening of lung and heart conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause variety of health problems such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
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 thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing problems for those who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut down on the amount of smoky outside air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure you switch it off when the air is smoking. This will allow the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than the air being recirculated inside. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make sure that those ducts are separate from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specifically designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However homeowners should take the time to analyze their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. This could save you as much as 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their air conditioner at an lower temperature the following morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools down the walls, floors, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit, the homeowner will turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s shut off.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s important to prevent heat from getting into your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should cover windows to block out the sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to stop air from escaping during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.