Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most significant inventions of the modern age. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, places an enormous strain on the power system and produces huge amounts of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Efficiency in energy is one of the most important factors when selecting a new cooling unit. The upgrade to a more efficient conditioner will help you save on expenses for energy 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 a unit can cool with a certain amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. You can find a SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When looking for an air conditioner that is new pick one with an A+ rating. This rating reveals how well the unit performs under normal conditions during a particular season. A higher SEER rating could reduce the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes as well. For instance high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system work harder and consume more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns as well. These systems often make use of an array of split or packaged compressors and massive pipes to distribute cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require special maintenance to keep the pipes from getting blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS) that integrates all cooling and heating systems within the building into a single system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually have quick paybacks and incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to reduce the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling devices are efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, there are other steps we can take to help reduce our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is an important health issue for many people who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common problems like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through many different activities, like cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these problems. This can be accomplished by regularly vacuuming and dusting, cleaning bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the hygrometer.
Aside from the obvious health benefits as well as the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in the home. For instance, a house that is contaminated by air pollutants could become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier as well as maintaining the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open doors and windows for ventilation when needed.
The signs of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and general feeling of malaise. These symptoms may resolve when you leave the room however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air can worsen existing health conditions or even trigger serious health issues.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and the design of the building. But, a few simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the house opening up windows and doors whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning properly. If you’re looking to go a step further, we suggest you consult a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air assessment.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent in removing biological pollutants like bacteria, molds pollen, pet dander and mold. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The tiny particles that make up wildfire smoke are very dangerous and can easily get into your eyes, nose and throat, causing symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and worsen chronic heart and lung conditions. The fine particles that are invisible in smoke can get stuck in your lung, triggering a myriad of health issues, including an increase in asthma, bronchitis, and damage to your lung and heart.
The haze that engulfed New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across most of the north and south of the United States. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from entering your home through doors and windows especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or office.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow the system to expel the smoke directly outside instead of returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building which connect to areas that could produce high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages that are attached to the building and loading docks, be sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an increasingly popular method of reducing energy consumption. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most power companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners cool their homes ahead of off-peak times, so they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. Even so homeowners should be aware of their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner is most cost-effective. A lot of people save 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC to an lower temperature the following morning and maintain it for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling, floors, furnishings and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This strategy is effective because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the house cool. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through your windows, doors and other leaky areas. That’s why homeowners should double-check that their homes are properly sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window shades to block sun light particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the daytime. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from escaping when cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats that can assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy bills without having to remember when to turn on or off the system.