Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most significant inventions of the modern age. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters and wartime planes and supplies possible.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report raises awareness of the issue and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when selecting a new cooling system. Making the switch to a more efficient air cooling system will lower your expenses for energy and reduce environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioning units is assessed in various ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit. You can find the SEER rating of a system on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
When you are looking for a new air conditioning system, search for one with a high SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will lower your energy consumption and costs if you are replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. For example high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system work harder and use more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency concerns as well. They typically make use of a combination of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into one centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning suggestions that usually provide quick paybacks and incentives for implementation.
The global effort to curb the impact of climate change is largely dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. In the end, we must ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling devices to market, and consumers want these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other steps to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a major health risk for many people who spend a significant portion of their lives inside buildings. There are fortunately many ways to improve IAQ, which can stop common issues like asthma or allergies, as well as fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants can be released into the air by a number of activities such as cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of humidity can also wreak havoc on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture level at a minimum is crucial to avoid these issues. This can be accomplished by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, furniture and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier that is based on the hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can improve the comfort of a home. For instance, a home with high air pollutants can become musty and smell unpleasant. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a snoring feeling. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and making sure that doors and windows are open for ventilation as required.
The signs of poor air quality can be varied and include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and a general malaise. Although these symptoms may be relieved after leaving a space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause health problems that are already present and could lead to serious illness.
Ventilation is the primary factor that impacts IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms and the design. There are many ways to improve IAQ. These include installing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system works effectively. For those who would prefer to take more of a thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out the majority of biological pollutants, such as molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms like burning or itchy eyes, congestion, runny nasal and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and worsen heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can cause range of health issues, including bronchitis and aggravated asthma.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires 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 respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
Unfortunately there is no way to completely stop smoky air from getting into your business or home through windows and doors especially older houses with many drafts and cracks. You can take steps to lessen the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If you can, put wet towels around the door frames and cracks to stop the flow of smoke into your home or business.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air to the outside instead of the air being recirculated. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance loading docks and parking garages You should make sure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often in the event of smoke to ensure they’re effectively taking out the toxins in the indoor air. Choose a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes in advance during off-peak times, so they don’t require air conditioners at those expensive summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However even with this, homeowners must take the time to examine their electricity usage patterns and figure out the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioner. Many homeowners save around 25% or more off their energy bills using this method.
To supercool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and maintains it at the same setting for a couple of hours. This cools down the walls, floors furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner cranks the air conditioner up and leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This strategy is successful because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air inside the house cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from getting into the house through windows, doors and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their home is insulated and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also make use of window shades to block out sun, especially in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Also, they should make sure that all windows and doors are sealed to prevent air from escaping during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills low without worrying about forgetting to switch off or on.
