Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are among the most important inventions of the past century. They were instrumental in making wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
However, cooling puts a large burden on electrical systems and generates huge quantities of pollution. This particular IEA report aims to raise awareness of the negative impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting the right cooling system, energy efficiency is an important aspect. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings indicate how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the score, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a unit can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will lower the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other causes as well. For example high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system more efficient and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing of leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the energy efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations as well. These systems make use of a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require special maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by something known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all cooling and heating systems in the building into a single system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to combat the impact of climate change is largely dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. We must ensure that cooling appliances are efficient and that consumers are demanding these appliances. In the meantime, there are other ways we can reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be an important health issue for many people who spend a substantial portion of their lives inside buildings. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ, which can prevent common problems such as asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three most frequent sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by a variety of activities, such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is essential to avoid these issues. The best method to do this is to regularly dust and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and soft furnishings, and using an air dehumidifier and humidifier if needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
Apart from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of the home. A home with high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, difficulty concentrating and general malaise. Although these symptoms may resolve themselves after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can worsen existing health issues and can even result in serious illness.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the speed at which fresh air replaces stale air, a process referred to as ventilation. This is affected by the weather conditions, the occupancy rate of the room, and the design. There are simple ways to improve IAQ. These include adding plants to the home, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system works effectively. If you’d prefer to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended that they speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out most biological pollutants, such as bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily enter your nose, eyes and throat, causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lungs, triggering a variety of health issues, including worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It is also causing dangerous air quality conditions throughout much of the north and south of the United States. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent smoke from entering your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with many cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Close all windows and doors when it’s smoky. This can cut down on the amount of smoke in the outside air by 30%. Place wet towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to stop the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system is in the recirculation feature, make sure to turn off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow the system eliminate the smoke outside, rather than returning it to inside. If your building has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages, you should ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively eliminating the toxins from the air inside. Select a filter with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that’s become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs don’t vary by amount at all times of the day. The majority of power companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t require air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can adjust automatically. However even with this, homeowners should take the time to examine their electricity consumption patterns and decide the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioner. Many people save about 25% or more off their energy bills by using this method.
To make the house super cool homeowners, they set their AC to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that setting for a couple of hours. This cools down the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioner up and runs it until it is turned off for several hours.
This method is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. It’s important that homeowners double-check their homes’ insulation and seal any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should consider using window shades to block sun light particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. Also, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider installing smart thermostats that will aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the best times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to turn on or off the system.
