Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips
Cooling and air conditioning are one of the most significant inventions of the history of modern times. They were instrumental in making summer blockbusters, wartime planes and supplies possible.
Cooling, however puts an enormous strain on the power system and creates huge amounts of pollution. This particular IEA report raises awareness about the effects of this demand, and offers solutions.
Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency is one of the most important aspects when selecting a new cooling system. Upgrading to an efficient air conditioner will help you save on energy bills and reduce environmental impacts. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is rated in several ways that include SEER and EER. These ratings tell you how much a unit is able to cool for a given amount of energy consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can locate a SEER rating on the yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.
If you are looking for an air conditioner that is new pick one with a high rating. This rating shows how well the unit performs under normal conditions in a given season. A higher SEER rating will reduce your energy costs and consumption when replacing an older model.
Air conditioning systems can be affected by other factors as well. A high humidity indoors, a the absence of maintenance and leaks in ducts, for instance, can cause your system to be more demanding and consume more energy. Maintaining your system with regular maintenance and sealing leaks from ducts are easy steps to improve the efficiency of your system.
Commercial cooling systems are also subject to energy efficiency issues. These systems use a combination split or packaged compressors as well as 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, many of these large systems are controlled by something called a Building Automation System (BAS), which integrates all heating and cooling systems of the building into one centralized system. Verde has assisted in optimizing the efficiency of the systems by offering retrocommissioning recommendations that provide quick paybacks.
The global effort to combat climate change is heavily dependent on the efficiency of cooling and air conditioning. We must ensure that cooling appliances are extremely efficient and that consumers want these appliances. In the meantime we can also take other measures to reduce our energy use and greenhouse gases emissions.
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor air quality can be a serious health concern for those who spend a significant portion of their lives in buildings. There are numerous ways to improve IAQ and avoid common ailments like allergies, asthma fatigue, allergies, etc.
Particulate matter (PM) as well as 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 actions like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.
A high level of moisture may also have a negative effect on the quality of air. Mildew and mold can thrive in moist air, which can lead to respiratory issues. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is essential to avoid these problems. The best method to do this is by regularly dusting and vacuuming, cleaning bedding and furniture and utilizing a dehumidifier or humidifier as needed based on the readings of a hygrometer.
In addition to the obvious health benefits of improving IAQ in your home, it can improve the comfort of your home. A home with high levels of air pollution such as radon, for instance, can smell musty. It can also cause irritation eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. These issues can be prevented by installing an air purifier, maintaining the HVAC system, and ensuring that doors and windows are kept open to let in air as needed.
Poor air quality can trigger headaches, concentration problems, and a general unwellness. These symptoms may resolve after leaving the space however, prolonged exposure to poor air quality can aggravate existing health issues or even trigger serious illnesses.
Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This can be affected by the weather, occupancy rate of the room, and the design. But, a few simple steps can be taken to enhance IAQ, including adding plants to the house opening up windows and doors as much as is possible and making sure that the HVAC system is operating correctly. For those who would like to take a more thorough approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist about an assessment of indoor air quality.
Smoke Pollution
Central air conditioning systems are excellent at removing biological contaminants like molds, bacteria pollen, pet dander and mold. However they cannot remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke are very dangerous, and they can easily enter your nose, eyes, and throat and cause symptoms such as burning or itchy eyes, congestion, a runny nose and coughing. They can also cause irritation to the lungs and worsen the severity of heart and lung problems. The tiny particles of smoke can lodge deep into your lung, triggering a myriad of health effects such as worsened asthma, bronchitis and damage to your heart and lungs.
The smoke that blanketed New York City last week was caused by forest fires raging in Canada. It can also cause dangerous air quality conditions throughout much of the south and north of the United States. The dense smoky haze reduces visibility and causes breathing difficulties for those who is outdoors.
Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent smoke from entering your home or business through windows and doors particularly older homes with a lot of cracks and drafts. You can make steps to decrease the amount of smoke that enters your building.
Keep all doors and windows shut when it’s smokey outside. This can reduce the amount of smoke from outside air by 30 percent. Put wet towels in cracks of door frames and around them to stop the flow of smoky air.
If your HVAC system has a recirculation function, make sure to shut it off when air is smoky. This will allow your HVAC system to take the smokey indoor air outside instead of the air being recirculated. If your structure has ducts that connect to areas where contamination is likely to be high, for instance parking garages or loading docks it is important to ensure that these ducts are isolated from the rest of.
The EPA suggests that you change your HVAC filters more often in the event of smoke to ensure that they are eliminating contaminants from indoor air. Select a filter with the minimum reporting value (MERV) which is 13 or higher. These filters are designed to eliminate the smoke and gaseous pollution from the air.
Supercooling
Supercooling is an energy-saving trend that has become more popular in recent years. It’s based on the notion that electricity prices are different at different times of the day. In fact, many power companies offer “time-of-use” plans that feature different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners pre-cool their homes during off-peak times so that they don’t have to run their air conditioners during those high-cost summer peak times.
This requires a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. Even with this, homeowners still need to take the time to analyze their usage patterns for electricity to determine when their air conditioner will be the most efficient. This can save you up to 25 percent on your energy bills.
To keep the home cool, the homeowner should set their AC to lower temperatures the next morning and maintain it for a few hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When energy costs are high, the homeowner will turn the air conditioning up, and leave it running until the next time it is shut off.
This method is efficient because cooling doesn’t just mean making the air inside the home cooler. It is essential to stop heat from entering your home through windows, doors and other points that leak. It’s important that homeowners double-check their home’s insulation and insulate any drafty or leaky areas. It is also recommended to use blinds to block the sun’s rays particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight in the hottest hours of the day. Additionally, they should make sure that all doors and windows are sealed tightly to prevent air from getting out during cooling cycles. Additionally, they should think about installing smart thermostats that will help them remember to start and stop cooling at the ideal times of the day. This allows homeowners to keep their energy costs low without worrying about forgetting to switch off or on.
