Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions of the history of modern times. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and other supplies possible.
However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and creates massive quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting a new cooling system, energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways, including SEER and EER. 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. You can find the system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner for the first time, choose one with an A+ rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. For example high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have particular energy efficiency considerations also. They usually use the combination of split or packaged compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has helped optimize the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for those who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like asthma, allergies, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities such as cleaning, cooking, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory issues.
The high levels of humidity can also create destruction on the air quality. Moist air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent this from happening it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a minimum. The best way to achieve this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can increase comfort in a home. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to prevent these issues. Also, ensure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, concentration problems, and a general unwellness. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can worsen existing health conditions or even cause serious illness.
Ventilation is the main aspect that influences IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ by introducing plants into the house opening up windows and doors as much as possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you want to go a step further, we suggest you talk to a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out most biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires contains 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. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across much of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky fog reduces visibility and may cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outside.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely prevent smoke from entering your business or home through windows and doors particularly older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your building.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30%. Put wet towels in cracks around door frames and in the corners to stop the flow of smoke.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside, rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that can produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached 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 in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effective in taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are designed to eliminate gases and smoke pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans that have different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak hours, meaning they don’t require air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners need to be aware of and look up their electric consumption patterns and decide the best time to run their air conditioning. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at that setting for a couple of hours. This cools the walls, floors furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit homeowners, they turn up the temperature, and leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This method works because cooling isn’t only about making the air inside the house cool. It also aims to prevent heat from getting into the house through doors, windows and other leak points. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their home is constructed and insulated, and also cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window covers to block the sun, especially in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles occur. They should also consider installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to start and stop cooling. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills low and not worry about forgetting to switch off or on.
