Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most significant inventions of our time. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however, puts enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When choosing an air conditioner, energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will 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 in a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating reveals how the unit performs in normal conditions in a given season. If you’re replacing an older model with a higher SEER rating will drastically reduce your energy use and cost.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other elements as well. For example high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system work harder and consume more energy. Keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy ways to improve your system’s energy efficiency.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems with simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to combat climate change. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling appliances to market, and consumers want them. In the meantime we can take additional steps to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in structures, and these structures can be a major health risk in the event that the indoor air quality is poor. There are a variety of ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues such as asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent pollutants in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air due to many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they could lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can have a negative impact on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mildew and mold which can cause respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a lower level. The best way to accomplish this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding, and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits in improving IAQ can improve the comfort of homes. For instance, a home that is contaminated by air pollutants could be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger itchy skin, irritated eyes, and a stuffy feeling. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are opened to allow air circulation when needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, concentration problems and a general feeling of feeling of ill-health. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious illness.
Ventilation is the most important factor that impacts IAQ. This is influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, as well as the design of the structure. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introduction of plants into the house, opening windows and doors as much as possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning effectively. For those who would prefer a more thorough approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out most biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to eliminate smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate chronic lung and heart conditions. The invisible fine particles in smoke can lodge deep into your lungs, triggering a variety of health effects such as an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung 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 much of the south and north of the United States. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory distress to anyone who is required to be outside.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with many cracks and drafts. However you can make steps to limit the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. If possible, place wet towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or office.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn it off during smoky conditions. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air outside, rather than recirculating it. If you have ducts in your building that connect to areas that may have high concentrations of contaminants, such as parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure to have those ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively eliminating the toxins from the indoor air. Select a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to remove the 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 idea that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, so they don’t need to run air conditioners during the expensive summer peak hours.
This method requires a thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However, homeowners still need to examine their electricity usage patterns to determine when their air conditioner is the most efficient. This can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house, the homeowner should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it’s off for several hours again.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the home 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 homes are properly insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to cover windows to block out sunlight, particularly 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 escaping when cooling cycles. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.
