Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air cooling and conditioning is one of the most significant inventions of our time. They made summer blockbusters possible and also helped boost production for wartime supplies and aircrafts.
However cooling puts a huge burden on electrical systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This special IEA report raises awareness about the impact of this demand and provides solutions.
Energy Efficiency
When you are choosing a new cooling system, energy efficiency is a key factor. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you’ll save money on energy bills and reduce the environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways such as SEER and EER. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool for a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. The SEER rating of a system can be found on its yellow Energy Guide Label or by searching “SEER ratings”.
When looking for a brand new air conditioning system, look for one with a good SEER rating. This rating indicates how the unit performs under normal conditions during a given season. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will significantly reduce your energy consumption and costs.
Air conditioning systems are affected by other causes too. For instance high levels of indoor humidity and a lack of maintenance and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and consume more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to increase the efficiency of your system.
Large commercial cooling systems have particular energy efficiency considerations as well. They use a combination of split or packaged compressors as well as massive pipe networks to provide cooling throughout the building. These systems could also incorporate steam systems that require specialized maintenance in order to prevent the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition, many of these large systems are controlled by a system called a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has helped clients improve the performance of these systems by providing simple retrocommissioning recommendations that typically offer quick paybacks as well as incentives for their implementation.
The global effort to curb climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of energy used in cooling and air-conditioning. We need to ensure that cooling appliances are super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime, there are other ways we can reduce our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality is a serious health concern for many people who spend a significant portion of their time in buildings. There are many ways to improve IAQ and prevent common issues like asthma, allergies fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern offices and homes. These pollutants are released into the air through a variety of activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems as well as allergic reactions.
The presence of excessive moisture can have a negative impact on air quality. Mold and mildew can grow in humid air, which can lead to respiratory issues. To prevent these issues it is essential to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture at a minimum. This can be achieved by regularly cleaning and vacuuming, washing bedding, cushions and making use of a humidifier or dehumidifier based on the humidifier or hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution, for example, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. These issues can be avoided by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that windows and doors are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can lead to headaches, difficulty concentrating, and a general malaise. These symptoms may improve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor quality air could exacerbate existing health issues or even trigger serious illnesses.
The main factor that affects IAQ is the speed of fresh air replacing the old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This is affected by the weather, the occupancy rate of rooms and the design. There are many methods to improve IAQ. This includes introducing plants in the home, opening the doors and windows whenever feasible, and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. If you want to go a step further, we recommend that you speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.
Smoke Pollution
While central air conditioners do a fantastic job of filtering out most biological pollutants, including molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they’re not designed to remove smoke particles. Wildfire smoke contains microscopic particles that can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eye congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also irritate the lungs and exacerbate heart and lung conditions that are chronic. Smoke particles can trigger a variety of health problems such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.
The haze that covered New York City last week was caused by forest fires that are burning in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality issues across large parts of the south and north of the United States. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who must be outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely stop smoky air from getting into your business or home through doors and windows especially older houses with lots of cracks and drafts. However you can take steps to minimize the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors closed when it is smoky outside. 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 ai.
If your HVAC system has an recirculation feature, make sure you turn it off when the air is smoking. This will allow the system expel the smoke directly outside instead of returning it to inside. If you have ducts within your building connected to areas that can have high concentrations of pollutants, like parking garages with attached loading docks, make sure to have those ducts separated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters much more often during times of smoke to ensure they are effectively taking out the toxins in the air inside. Select a filter that has an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or more, since these filters are specially designed to remove the smoke and other gaseous air pollutants.
Supercooling
Supercooling is a trend to save energy that has gained popularity in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. The majority of electricity companies offer “time of use” plans with different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling allows homeowners to pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak periods.
This method requires an automated thermostat that can be programmed. However, even with this, homeowners should be aware of and examine their electricity usage patterns and determine the most cost-effective time to run their air conditioning. This method could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To make the house super cool homeowners, they set their air conditioner to a lower temperature in the morning, and then keeps it at the same setting for a few hours. This cools down the floors, walls, furniture, and fixtures of the home as well as the air inside. Then, when peak energy-cost hours hit the homeowner, he or she turns the air conditioning on and leaves it running until it is turned off for several hours.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the house cooler. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through doors, windows, 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. They should also use window coverings to block the sun’s rays particularly those that receive bright direct sunlight in the hottest parts of the daytime. They should also ensure that all windows and doors are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles are in progress. They should also think about installing smart thermostats to help them remember when to begin and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to reduce their energy consumption without worrying about forgetting to switch on or off the system.
