Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in the history of modern times. They helped make summer blockbusters, wartime planes and supplies possible.
However cooling places a significant burden on electrical systems and causes huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the negative impact of this demand and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will 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 an air conditioner can cool in a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. The SEER rating of the system can be found on the yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When shopping for a new air conditioning unit, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating shows how the unit performs in normal conditions during a given season. A higher SEER rating can lower your energy costs and consumption in the event that you replace an older model.
Other factors can affect the efficiency of energy in air conditioning systems, too. For example high levels of indoor humidity, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can make your system work harder and consume more energy. Making sure you are keeping up with routine maintenance and sealing duct leaks are easy ways to improve the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency considerations, too. They typically utilize an array of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to distribute cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems that require special maintenance to ensure that the pipes do not become blocked.
Additionally the majority of these massive systems are controlled by a system known as a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all cooling and heating systems of the building into a single system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the performance of the systems by offering retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key component of global efforts to reduce climate change. In the end, we have to ensure that manufacturers introduce super-efficient cooling equipment to market, and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can help cut our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for many people who spend a substantial portion of their time in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like allergies, asthma, fatigue, etc.
Particulate matter as well as volatile organic compounds and carbon dioxide are three of the most common pollutants in modern homes and office buildings. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities such as cooking, cleaning, and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory issues.
The presence of excessive moisture can also have a negative impact on air quality. Moisture can encourage the growth of mildew and mold that can trigger respiratory problems. To prevent these issues it is essential to monitor humidity and ensure that the moisture level remains at a lower level. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, washing bedding and furniture and using a dehumidifier or humidifier as required based on readings from hygrometers.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can improve the comfort of your home. A home that has high levels of air pollutants such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation to eyes, itchy skin and a feeling of suffocation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, keeping the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are opened to allow air circulation when required.
Symptoms of poor air quality can be varied and can include headaches difficulties in concentrating, or a general malaise. These symptoms may resolve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even cause serious illnesses.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the rate of fresh air replacing stale air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be influenced by the weather, room occupancy rates, and the design of the structure. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the home opening up windows and doors whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating effectively. For those who would prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested that they speak with a Comfort Specialist about an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a great job of removing the majority of biological contaminants, like bacteria, molds and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can trigger symptoms such as burning or itchy eye congested nasal, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to your lungs and aggravate chronic heart and lung conditions. Smoke particles can trigger a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The smoke blanketing New York City this week has been caused by forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions throughout much of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who has to be outdoors.
There is no way to prevent smoke from entering your home through windows and doors particularly in older homes with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke that enters your home or business.
Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This can cut down on 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 flow of smoke into your business or home.
If your HVAC system features an recirculation feature, make sure to shut it off when air is smoking. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air to the outside instead of returning it. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contaminants are likely to be high, such as loading docks or parking garages it is important to ensure that these ducts are kept away from the rest.
The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are effectively removing contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with an MERV that is at least (MERV), which is 13 or more. These filters are designed to get rid of smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has been an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based on the notion that electricity isn’t priced the same amount at all times of the day. In fact, most electricity companies offer “time-of-use” plans that provide different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling allows homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t have to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.
This requires an automatic thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners need to be sure to study their electric usage patterns and figure out the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. Many people save about 25% or more on their energy bills using this method.
To make the house super cool the home, the homeowner set their air conditioner to lower temperatures in the morning and keeps it at that temperature for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling furniture, floors, flooring and fixtures as well as the inside air. Then, when peak energy-cost times arrive the homeowner cranks the air conditioning on and then leaves it running until it shuts off for a few hours again.
This method is effective because cooling isn’t just about keeping the air inside the house cool. It’s crucial to prevent heat from entering your home through your windows, doors, and other leaky points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly sealed and make sure to insulate any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should make use of window shades to block out sunlight, particularly in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight during the hottest hours of the day. They should also ensure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles. Finally, they should consider using smart thermostats to help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy bills at a minimum without having to remember to turn the system off or on.
