Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Air conditioning and cooling is one of the most significant inventions of modern history. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters, wartime planes and other supplies possible.
However cooling puts a huge strain on electricity systems and creates massive amounts of pollution. This particular IEA Report aims to raise awareness of the impact and suggests solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is among the most important factors to consider when selecting a new cooling unit. Upgrade to an energy-efficient air conditioner and reduce your energy costs and reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of electricity consumed. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. You can find the SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” online.
When looking for an air conditioner for the first time pick one with a high rating. This rating indicates how well the unit will perform during the course of a season in normal conditions. A higher SEER rating can reduce your energy consumption and costs when replacing an older model.
Other factors can impact the efficiency of air conditioning systems too. For instance, high indoor humidity levels, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Routine maintenance and sealing leaks in the ducts are a simple way to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. They use a combination of packaged or split-compressors and huge pipeline networks to supply cooling throughout the building. They might also have steam systems which require specialized maintenance in order to keep the pipes from becoming blocked.
In addition the majority of these massive systems are controlled by what’s known as a Building Automation System (BAS) which connects all cooling and heating systems in the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of these systems by providing retrocommissioning strategies that offer quick paybacks.
Energy efficiency in cooling and air conditioning is a major component of global efforts to mitigate climate change. Ultimately, we need to ensure that manufacturers bring highly efficient cooling appliances to market, and consumers demand these appliances. In the meantime, we can take other steps 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 could pose significant health threats in the event that the indoor air quality is poor. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to improve IAQ, which can be a solution to common ailments like asthma as well as allergies and fatigue.
Particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and carbon dioxide are three of the most prevalent pollutants in modern offices and homes. buildings. These pollutants are released into the air through a variety of activities, like cooking, cleaning, and smoking cigarettes, and can cause respiratory problems and allergic reactions.
A high level of humidity can also cause destruction on the air quality. Moist air encourages the growth of mildew and mold, which can trigger respiratory issues. To prevent this from happening, it is important to keep an eye on humidity levels and keep the moisture level at a minimum. This can be achieved by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, cushions and using a humidifier or dehumidifier using a humidity gauge.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ It can also increase the comfort in your home. A home that has high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also cause irritated or itchy eyes, and a swollen sensation. Installing an air purifier and keeping the HVAC system can help to avoid these issues. Also, ensure that you open your windows and doors for ventilation when needed.
Poor air quality can cause headaches, problems with concentration, and a general feeling of ill-health. These symptoms may improve when you leave the room however prolonged exposure to poor quality air can aggravate existing health issues or cause serious illness.
The primary factor that affects IAQ is the rate that fresh air replaces old air, a process that is known as ventilation. This can be affected by the weather, room occupancy rate and the design. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by introduction of plants into the home and opening doors and windows whenever possible and making sure that the HVAC system is working properly. For those who would prefer an even more comprehensive approach, it is recommended to speak with a Comfort Specialist about 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 bacteria, molds, pet dander, and pollen, they’re not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. The microscopic particles in wildfire smoke pose a risk, and they can easily get into your nose, eyes, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes congestion, runny nose, and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen chronic lung and heart conditions. Smoke particles can cause variety of health problems like bronchitis, as well as aggravation of asthma.
The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week was caused by forest fires in Canada, and it is causing hazardous air quality conditions across much of the northern US and southern Canada. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and can cause breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
There is no way to stop smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors, especially in older homes that have a lot of cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke entering your home or business.
Keep all windows and doors shut when it’s smokey outside. This can cut the amount of smoky air by 30 percent. Place damp towels in the cracks around door frames and in the corners to reduce the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation mode, be sure to turn off when you are in a smokey environment. This will allow your HVAC to take the smokey indoor air instead of the air being recirculated. If you have ducts in your building which connect to areas that could generate high levels of contaminants, such as parking garages with attached loading docks, make sure to have those ducts independently isolated from the rest of the duct system.
The EPA recommends changing your HVAC filters more frequently in the event of smoke to ensure that they are removing pollutants from the air in your home. Select a filter with a minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or greater. These filters are designed to remove smoke and gaseous air pollution.
Supercooling
In recent years, supercooling has become an energy-saving method that is popular. It’s based off the idea that electricity prices vary at different times of the day. Most electricity companies offer “time of use” plans that offer different peak and offpeak rates. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes at off-peak times so that they don’t need to run their air conditioners during the high-cost summer peak hours.
This requires a programmable thermostat that is able to adjust itself automatically. Even with this, homeowners still need to examine their patterns of usage of electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. This method could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool the home, the homeowner set their AC to a lower temperature in the morning and keeps it at the same setting for a couple of hours. This cools down the floors, walls furniture, fixtures and furniture of the home as well as the air inside. When peak energy-cost hours hit, the homeowner turns the air conditioning up and then leaves it running until it’s off for several hours.
This method is efficient since cooling doesn’t just refer to making the air in the home cooler. It also aims to prevent heat from entering the home through windows, doors and other leak points. This is why homeowners should ensure that their home is properly insulated and insulate any leaky or drafty areas. Also, they should cover windows to block out sunlight, particularly in areas that get direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. Additionally they should ensure that all windows and doors are tightly sealed to stop air from getting out during cooling cycles. They should also consider using smart thermostats to assist them remember when to start and stop cooling. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs at a minimum without having to remember to turn off the system or on.
