Energy Efficient Cooling and Air Conditioning Tips

Air conditioning and cooling are one of the most important inventions in the past century. They made blockbuster summer movies possible and helped boost manufacturing for wartime supplies and airplanes.

However, cooling puts a large strain on electricity systems and generates huge quantities of pollution. This special IEA report aims to raise awareness of 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 unit. Upgrade to a more efficient air conditioner and you will reduce your energy costs and also reduce your environmental impact. The energy efficiency of air conditioners is evaluated in a variety of ways, including SEER and EER. These ratings show how much an air conditioner can cool in a given amount of power consumed. The higher the rating the more efficient the unit is. You can find the system’s SEER rating on its yellow Energy Guide label or by searching for “SEER ratings” on the internet.

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. If you’re replacing a model that’s older with a higher SEER rating, it will drastically reduce your energy consumption and cost.

Other things can influence energy efficiency in air conditioning systems, too. For instance high levels of humidity in the indoor, lack of maintenance, and duct leaks can all make your system more efficient and use more energy. Regular maintenance and sealing leaks in ducts are simple ways to increase the energy efficiency of your system.

Large commercial cooling systems come with their own energy efficiency concerns, too. They usually utilize the combination of packaged or split compressors and massive pipe networks to deliver cooling throughout the building. These systems may also include steam systems that require specialized maintenance to prevent the pipes from getting blocked.

Many of these systems can also be controlled with the use of a Building Automation System, which connects the cooling and heating systems into a single centralized system. Verde has assisted clients in optimizing the performance of these systems through simple retrocommissioning guidelines that typically provide quick paybacks and incentives to implement.

Energy efficiency in air conditioning and cooling is a key element of global efforts to reduce climate change. We must ensure that cooling equipment is super-efficient and that consumers demand them. In the meantime we can also take other steps to cut down on our energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Indoor Air Quality

Many people spend much of their lives in structures, and these structures can cause serious health risks when their indoor air quality isn’t good enough. There are fortunately numerous ways to improve IAQ that can help be a solution to common ailments like asthma, allergies, and fatigue.

Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and carbon dioxide are the three main sources for pollution in modern workplaces and homes. These pollutants can be released into the atmosphere by a number of activities like cooking, cleaning and smoking. They can cause allergies and respiratory problems.

High levels of humidity can also create havoc on air quality. Mildew and mold can flourish in humid air, and can lead to respiratory problems. Monitoring humidity and keeping the moisture low is key to preventing these issues. This can be done by regularly vacuuming and dusting, washing bedding, furniture and using a dehumidifier or humidifier that is based on the hygrometer.

Aside from the obvious health benefits, improving IAQ can increase comfort in homes. A home with high levels of air pollution for instance, may smell musty. It can also trigger irritated eyes or itchy eyes, as well as a stuffy sensation. Installing an air purifier and maintaining the HVAC system can help prevent these issues. Also, make sure that you open windows and doors for ventilation when needed.

The signs of poor air quality can be a variety of symptoms and can include headaches difficulty in concentrating, and a general feeling of malaise. While these symptoms can disappear after leaving the area, prolonged exposure could worsen existing health issues and could lead to serious illness.

Ventilation is the most important factor that affects IAQ. This can be influenced by the weather, occupancy rates, and also the design of the building. However, simple steps can be taken to improve IAQ by adding plants to the home opening up windows and doors as much as is possible and ensuring that the HVAC system is operating properly. For those who would like to take an even more comprehensive approach, it is suggested to speak with a Comfort Specialist regarding an indoor air quality assessment.

Smoke Pollution

While heat pumps and central air conditioners do a great job of filtering out the majority of biological contaminants, like molds, bacteria and pet dander pollen, they are not specifically designed to remove smoke particles. The tiny particles of wildfire smoke pose a risk and can easily enter your eyes, nose and throat, which can cause symptoms like burning or itchy eyes congestion, 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 trigger a range of health issues such as bronchitis and aggravation of asthma.

The smoke that has blanketed New York City this week is the result of forest fires in Canada and has created hazardous air quality conditions across a large portion of the northern US and southern Canada. The thick smoky haze decreases visibility and can cause respiratory stress for anyone who must be outdoors.

There is no way to keep smoke from getting into your home through windows and doors especially in older houses with a lot of drafts and cracks. You can take steps to reduce the amount of smoke that enters your building.

Keep all doors and windows closed when it’s smoky outside. This will reduce the amount of smoky outside air by 30%. If you can, place damp towels on the door frames and cracks to slow the movement of smoky air into your business or home.

If your HVAC system features a recirculation function, make sure you shut it off when air is smokey. This will allow the system exhaust the smoky air directly outside rather than recirculating it inside. If your building has ducts connecting to areas where contamination is likely to be high, like parking garages or loading docks it is important to ensure that the ducts are separated from the rest.

The EPA recommends that you change your HVAC filters more frequently when you are in a smokey environment to ensure that they are removing pollutants from the air in your home. Choose a filter with an efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or higher, as these filters are specially designed to eliminate the smoke and other gaseous air contaminants.

Supercooling

In recent years, supercooling has been a popular energy-saving technique. It’s based on the idea that electricity costs different amounts at different times of the day. The majority of energy companies offer “time of use” plans that have different rates for off-peak and peak times. Supercooling lets homeowners to cool their homes ahead of off-peak hours, meaning they don’t need to run air conditioners during those costly summer peak hours.

This requires a programmable thermostat that can be adjusted automatically. However, even with this, homeowners need to be sure to examine their electricity usage patterns and determine the best time to run their air conditioner. This strategy could save you up to 25% on your energy bills.

To keep the home cool homeowners should set their air conditioner at a lower temperature the next morning and then keep it there for a few more hours. The home’s walls are cooled by the cooling as well as floors, furniture and fixtures, as well as the air inside. When the energy costs are at their peak, the homeowner will increase the temperature of the air conditioner and leave it on until the next time it is shut off.

This strategy works because cooling isn’t just about making the air inside the home cool. It’s also about stopping heat from entering the home through doors, windows and other leak points. This is why homeowners must ensure that their homes are properly insulated and cover any drafty or leaky areas. Also, they should consider using window coverings to block the sun’s rays particularly in areas that get bright direct sunlight during the hottest times of the day. It is also important to 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 assist them in ensuring that they start and stop cooling at the most optimal times of the day. This will allow homeowners to cut down on their energy consumption without having to remember when to turn on or off the system.

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