Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most important inventions of our time. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.
However cooling puts a huge demand on electric systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to an efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated with several different energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of power consumed. The higher the rating is, the more efficient the unit. 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 high SEER rating. This rating indicates how well the unit performs in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors too. High indoor humidity, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks for example, can all make your system be more demanding and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also susceptible to concerns about energy efficiency. They usually make use of an array of packaged or split compressors with huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They could also include steam systems, that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into a single system. Verde has been able to improve the performance of these systems by providing retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a key component of global efforts to reduce climate change. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are a variety of ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A lot of people spend the majority of their lives in structures, and these structures could pose significant health threats when their indoor air quality is not as good. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter and volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common sources of pollution in modern office and home buildings. These pollutants are released into the air by various activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking cigarettes, and can lead to respiratory issues and allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can cause respiratory problems. To prevent these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and keep the moisture at a minimum. This can be done by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also improve the comfort of your home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can be stale and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to keep these issues from happening. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration and a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms will resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can exacerbate existing health conditions and could lead to serious health issues.
Ventilation is the main factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. These include introducing plants in the home, opening doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is working effectively. If you want to go a step further, we recommend that you talk to a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are great at filtering out biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose and coughing. They can also irritate your lungs and aggravate chronic heart and lung conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can clog your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and is causing hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility, and can cause respiratory stress to anyone who is required to be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through windows and doors, especially in older homes with many cracks and drafts. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smokey. This will reduce the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks of door frames and around them to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure that you turn it off when the air is smokey. This will allow the system to exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that can have high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, make sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing contaminants from indoor air. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or greater, as these filters are specifically designed to remove smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based upon the notion that electricity doesn’t cost the same amount at any time of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes in off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a thermostat with programmable settings that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even so homeowners must be aware of their usage patterns for electricity to determine the time when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. This method can save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To make the house super cool, the homeowner sets their AC to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at the same setting for a couple of hours. This cools the home’s walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the interior air. When peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This strategy works because cooling isn’t only about keeping the air inside the house cool. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other points that leak. It is crucial that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. They should also use blinds to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.