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 blockbuster summer movies possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system energy efficiency is a key aspect. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is rated in several ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit can cool with a certain amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are looking for an air conditioner that is new, choose one with an excellent rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Other things can influence energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, can make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations as well. They use a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems, that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all heating and cooling systems in the building into one central system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to reduce climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in buildings, and these structures could pose significant health threats in the event that the indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere through a variety of activities such as cleaning, cooking, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
A high level of humidity can also wreak havoc on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mold and mildew that can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent these issues, it is important to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a minimum. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in homes. For example, a home with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin, and a stuffy feeling. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation whenever you need to.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a general unwellness. While these symptoms can resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause health problems that are already present and can even result in serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate of fresh air replacing old air, a process known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. This can be done by adding plants to the home, opening the doors and windows as often as feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system works properly. If you want to go further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist for an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles which can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and cause worsening of chronic heart and lung conditions. The invisible fine particles in smoke can clog your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your lung and heart.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions throughout large parts of the north and south of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory distress for anyone 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. However you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This will reduce the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks and around door frames to stop the flow of smoky ai.
If your HVAC system has the recirculation feature, make sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside, rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts in your building connected to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like attached parking garages and loading docks, be certain to have these ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters more frequently during smokey conditions to ensure that they are effective in eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Choose a filter that has a minimum reporting value (MERV) that is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at all times of the day. In fact, many electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t require air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However homeowners should take the time to analyze their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner will be most cost-effective. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills through this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their AC to lower temperatures in the morning, and then keeps it at that temperature 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. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioning up and then leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the home cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through windows, doors, and other leaky points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block out the sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Additionally it is important to ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to stop air from escape during cooling cycles. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This helps homeowners cut their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.