Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of the modern age. They made summer movie blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
Cooling, however, places enormous strain on the electricity system and creates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the issue and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors when choosing a new cooling system. Upgrading to an efficient air cooling system will lower your energy bills and reduce environmental impacts. Air conditioning units are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings indicate how much an air conditioner can cool with a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of the system 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 an excellent rating. This rating indicates how well the unit can perform during a season under normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can lower the cost of energy and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks for example, can all make your system perform more efficiently and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are simple steps to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have their own energy efficiency considerations also. They use a combination of split- or packaged compressors, as well as huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specific maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.
Many of these large systems can also be controlled with a Building Automation System, which integrates the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the efficiency of systems by providing retrocommissioning recommendations that provide 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 equipment is efficient and that consumers are demanding them. In the meantime, we can take other measures to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
A large portion of people live their lives in buildings, and these structures can be a major health risk if their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. Fortunately, there are numerous ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter (PM), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern homes and offices. These pollutants can be released into the air through a variety of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can trigger allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can flourish in moist air, which can cause respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the humidity low is key to preventing these issues. The best way to accomplish this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and utilizing the dehumidifier or humidifier when required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also improve the comfort of your home. For instance, a house with a lot of air pollution can turn musty and odor unpleasant. It can also trigger irritated or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help avoid these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors to let air flow in when needed.
The symptoms of poor air quality are varied and can include headaches, difficulty in concentrating, and general malaise. While these symptoms will disappear after leaving the space, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause health problems that are already present and may lead to serious health issues.
The most important factor that influences IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces stale air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. There are a few easy methods to improve IAQ. This can be done by adding plants to the home, opening doors and windows whenever possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system works correctly. 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
Heat pumps and central air conditioning systems are effective at removing biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, pet dander and pollen. However, they do not remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, causing symptoms like burning eyes or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and cause worsening of the severity of heart and lung problems. Smoke particles can trigger a variety of health problems like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoke haze can reduce visibility and creates respiratory stress for anyone who is outdoors.
There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors, especially in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. However, you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it is smoky outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. If you can, place damp towels around the door frames and cracks in order to slow the movement of smoky air into your home or business.
If your HVAC system is in a recirculation mode, be sure to switch off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This allows your HVAC system to expel the smokey indoor air instead of returning it. If you have ducts within your building that connect to areas that could have high concentrations of contaminants, such as attached parking garages and loading docks, be certain to have these ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with a minimum efficiency report value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specifically designed to eliminate gases and smoke contaminants.
Supercooling
In recent times, supercooling has become a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours so they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak hours.
This method requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. However, even with this, homeowners must be aware of and study their electric usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air cooling system. This could save you as much as 25 percent on your energy bills.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at the same setting for a couple of hours. This cools the walls, floors, furnishings and fixtures as well as the air inside. When peak energy costs hit, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up and leave it on until the next time it is turned off.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the house cooler. It’s also about preventing heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly sealed and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. They should also use window shades to block out sun, especially those that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the day. It is also important to make sure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from escape during cooling cycles are in progress. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats that can aid them in remembering to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This makes it easier for homeowners to keep their energy costs low without worrying about forgetting to switch off or on.
