Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is among the most important inventions of modern history. They made wartime and summer blockbusters and other equipment possible.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and generates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the effects and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When selecting the right cooling system, energy efficiency is an important factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll reduce your energy costs and also reduce the environmental impact. Air conditioners are rated using a variety of energy efficiency ratings, including SEER, EER, and HSPF. These ratings show how the air conditioner is able to cool using a certain amount of electricity. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of a system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
If you are in the market for an air conditioner that is new look for one that has an excellent rating. This rating indicates how efficiently the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating could lower your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other factors as well. Insufficient humidity in the indoors, the absence of maintenance and duct leaks, for instance, can make your system work harder and consume additional energy. Routine maintenance and sealing ducts leaks are easy ways to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with particular energy efficiency considerations, too. They usually use the combination of packaged or split compressors that have huge pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. They may also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
A lot of these huge systems can also be controlled by an Building Automation System, which integrates the heating and cooling systems into a single centralized system. Verde has been able to improve the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning suggestions that have rapid paybacks.
The global effort to curb the effects of climate change is heavily dependent on energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling equipment is extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime, there are other actions we can take to reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Many people spend much of their lives in buildings, and these structures can cause serious health risks when the indoor air quality is not as good. There are many ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments such as asthma, allergies fatigue, asthma, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main pollutants in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air by many different activities, such as cooking, cleaning, or smoking, and they could cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
High levels of humidity can also wreak havoc on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is crucial to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a low level. The best way to achieve this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning furniture and bedding and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ, it can also increase comfort in your home. A home with high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. 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, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, concentration problems, and a general unwellness. The symptoms can resolve after leaving the area however prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or even cause serious health issues.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the rate of fresh air replacing the old air, a process known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including introduction of plants into the home opening up windows and doors as much as is possible, and ensuring that the HVAC system is functioning effectively. For those who would prefer to take a more thorough approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
While heat pumps and central air conditioners do an excellent job of removing the majority of biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria, pet dander, and pollen, they are not designed to remove smoke particles. Smoke from wildfires is a source of microscopic particles that can cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congested nasal, 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 cause variety health effects such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it has created hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick fog of smoke reduces visibility and may cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from getting into your home through your windows and doors, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. However, you can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke entering your building.
Close all doors and windows when it’s smoky. This can cut the amount of smoke by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks and around door frames to slow down the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation mode, make sure to turn off the recirculation mode during smoke conditions. This will allow your HVAC to exhaust the smoky indoor air, rather than returning it. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effectively removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to remove gaseous air pollution and smoke.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a green trend that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, most power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that offer different off-peak and peak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak hours, so they don’t have to use their air conditioners during high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to take the time to examine their electricity consumption patterns and decide when it’s most cost-effective to run their air conditioning. This method could save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To cool the house homeowners should set their AC at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few hours. This cools the home’s walls as well as floors, furniture and fixtures as well as the inside air. When energy costs are high homeowners, they increase the temperature of the air conditioner and then leave it running until the next time it’s turned off.
This method is efficient because it doesn’t only mean making the air in the house cooler. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly sealed and cover any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use window shades to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive direct sunlight that is bright during the hottest times of the day. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles occur. Also, they should consider using smart thermostats to assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs low and not worry about forgetting to turn the system off or on.