Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions of the past century. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and airplanes.
Cooling, however puts immense strain on the electricity system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report raises awareness of the effects and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors when selecting a new cooling system. Making the switch to a more efficient air conditioner will save on your energy costs and also reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be located on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for an air conditioner that is new, choose one with a high rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit can perform in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating will lower the cost of energy and consumption 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 can all make your system work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have particular energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems make use of a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They could also have steam systems, which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
Many of these systems can also be controlled by the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single central system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning recommendations that provide rapid paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air conditioning. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling devices to market, and that consumers demand them. In the meantime we can also take other measures to 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 can cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality is poor. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ that can help stop common issues like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most frequent sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of actions such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
High levels of humidity can also cause havoc on the quality of air. The humid air encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can trigger respiratory problems. To avoid these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and keep the moisture level at a minimum. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings and utilizing an air dehumidifier and humidifier if needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can increase the comfort in your home. For instance, a house with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. This can be addressed by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration, and a general unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area, but prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or cause serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of the room and the design. There are a few easy ways to improve IAQ. These include adding plants to the house, opening the windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works correctly. If you’re looking to take it a further, we suggest that you consult a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at removing biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. Smoke particles can cause a variety of health problems such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through doors and windows, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure you turn it off when the air is smokey. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air instead of recirculating it. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, for instance loading docks and parking garages, you should ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based on the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any given time of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak hours, so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners should be sure to look up their electric usage patterns and figure out the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To supercool the home homeowners should set their AC at lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few more hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures, and furniture of the house as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak the homeowner, he or she will increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it is turned off.
This method is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It is essential to stop heat from getting into your home through doors, windows and other leaky areas. It is essential that homeowners check the insulation of their home and cover any leaky or drafty areas. It is also recommended to use blinds to block the sun’s rays, especially those that get direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest hours of the day. Also, they should ensure that all doors and windows are tightly sealed to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles are in progress. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs low without worrying about forgetting to switch off or on.