Top Three Ways to be Energy Efficient with Your Cooling System

The increasing rise in the cost of oil combined with the green revolution means that there has never been a better time for investing in energy efficient cooling system units.  No matter the size of your home or office, the top three ways to be energy efficient with a cooling system are:

1. Ventilation
2. Evaporation Cooling
3. Ductless Air Conditioning

Ventilation usually provides the least expensive means of cooling a building.  Using a ventilation system requires a certain environment with strong air currents and minimal humidity, meaning that it may be better for hot and dry climates rather than mild and wet areas.  A properly ventilated building has a number of openings that will capitalize on wind flow, sucking out stale hot air to be replaced with cooler, circulating air.  This means that your building requires a large system of vents and air flow, but requires a minimum of energy to power it.  In large rooms or areas further circulation of air may be needed with fans.  A vent cooling system can lower the temperature of a building by around twenty degrees, but when air flow is stagnant, it will have minimal effect.  The low cost of installing vents, however, makes it a priority for any home or office.

Evaporation cooling, also known as “swamp cooling”, utilizes the simple property of heat retention in water to lower temperature.  As water can hold much more energy than air, it will absorb a tremendous amount of heat from the air and thus cool the area.  A pump sucks in air and cycles it through water- bearing paddles, then circulates it back through the room.  This can lower the temperature by as much as forty degrees, but works with less efficiency in humid areas.  These cooling system pumps cost only half as much as central air conditioning and use only a third as much power.

Air conditioners are so popular that they account for one twentieth of the total amount of energy used in the United States.  Nearly two tons of carbon dioxide are released per house with an A/C unit, but this does not mean that they are automatically energy wasteful, as certain models have greater “green” capability than others.  While central air conditioning uses a system of ducts to pump cool air, an energy-wasting process, energy use can be cut by as much as fifty percent with a ductless cooling system.  This is a great option for cooling specific rooms rather than the entire house. Although it is more expensive than a window air conditioner, it has distinct advantages including a thermostat control, and does not need to be removed when the heat of summer turns to the chill of fall.

Six Ways to Improve Summertime Indoor Air Quality

Anyone can improve indoor air quality in the summertime with these six simple tricks. As people spend 65% of their time in homes, removing pollutants keeps people healthier. Because inside air pollution can be 2 times to 100 times higher than the outside air problems, using houseplants, cleaning, washing bedding and installing entrance mats are excellent preventative measures. Replacing air conditioning filters, using exhaust fans and creating no smoking zones are easy ways to control airborne particles and odors.

1. Houseplants. Houseplants do more than beautify a home; they improve air quality. In 1989, NASA and the Association of Landscape Contractors of America proved various indoor plants like bamboo palms, spider plants, English Ivy and peace lily purify the air. Some plants are more effective on certain pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene than others.

2.  Cleaning & Washing Bedding. As a clean home is a healthy home, a little elbow grease goes a long ways. Vacuuming and mopping floors and dusting all surfaces remove pollen, mold spores, pet dander, dust mites and other allergy causing particles. Frequently washing of all bedding in hot water ensures safe and healthy sleep for the whole household.

3. Entrance Mats. As people wander outdoors, shoes collect anything they come into contact with and bring it into the house. This includes lead based paint particles, insecticides, fertilizers, dust and dirt. Having thick mats at all doorways to collect these unwelcome intruders is a simple way to improve indoor air quality especially in the summertime.

4. Air Conditioning Filters. Replacing air conditioning filters improves air quality. Not only does the clean filter let the air conditioner work more efficiently, it captures pollution. Special HEPA filters trap even smaller particles.

5. Exhaust Fans. Using bathroom exhaust fans improves air quality. As specially designed fans draw moisture and odors from rooms, using these fans in bathrooms regulates humidity and reduces opportunities for mold to grow.

6. No Smoking Zone. Keeping cigarette and cigar smoke outside greatly improves indoor air quality. Cigarettes alone contain over 400 different harmful chemicals absorbed by paint, furniture, carpeting, drapes and other people’s lungs. Creating an outdoor smoking area keeps these toxic fumes away from precious people and animals.

As people spend most of their time inside, taking these six simple steps to improve indoor air quality in the summertime makes sense. By purchasing the right kind of houseplants, keeping bedding clean, installing welcome mats, using quality air conditioner filters, turning on exhaust fans and creating a no smoking zone, homes become healthier. Everyone enjoys these sparkling, freshly cleaned areas.

Summertime Heating System Maintenance Tips And Tricks

Although everyone knows the heating system is not used during the summertime, few people realize this is the perfect time for a tune-up. Homeowners can schedule this work at their convenience without any time pressure. If a repair technician is needed, there is plenty of time to arrange a service call and maybe even take advantage of the frequent spring and fall special furnace maintenance offers. (more…)

Three Ways to Beat the Heat This Summer for Each Price Range

By: Emmalie Kipp

Summer is almost here and if you think that drinking lemonade and eating popsicles all day long is going to keep you from overheating, then you have one hot summer coming your way! If you really want to beat the heat this year, here are three sure fire ways to cool down your home: (more…)

Green Home Cooling Tips

By: Alisa Manzelli

Studies show that Americans spend approximately $11 million on air conditioning every year.  In addition, air conditioners release an abundance of carbon dioxides into the air—approximately 100 million tons annually.  With summer being just around the corner it is important to consider the ways you can help the environment (and your wallet) with energy efficient cooling options. (more…)

Radiant Heat Flooring – The Energy Efficient System

One of the known cooling systems of in floor heating is the radiant heat flooring. This system can be applied to the floors, ceiling and in the form of panels in walls of the room. The radiant heat also called as the source of the infrared radiation. This system has the most common advantage that, it warms the individuals and objects in the room. The radiant energy is usually combined with the solar or geothermal energy and it is purely environment friendly. (more…)

Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner Installation and Maintenance

The ductless mini split air conditioning system is perfect for any home or business establishment. The mini split, as it is sometimes referred to, eliminates the need to get the services of AC firms, like the Champs Houston AC repair or Champs Charlotte AC repair, to install a central air conditioning system. (more…)

Utilizing Humidifier Filters to Purify Your Home Air

Air humidifiers are essential products to utilize to keep the quality of the air clean and purified. Polluted and dry air may lead to serious health problems, so the perfect way to take good care of your family’s health is through the application of humidifier filters. Some old models of humidifiers do not come with a filter in it, and it may be the primary source of bad air because nothing is screening the dirt particles of the humidifier. (more…)

Gas VS Electric Heaters For The Home

If you are building a new home, renovating, or simply refurbishing your existing house it is important to consider efficient and effective home heating. Many older houses in particular suffer from cold and draughty atmospheres during winter, and this not only makes your life uncomfortable but also makes the home less valuable to a potential buyer. Both gas and electric heating options are very popular these days, both having distinct advantages and disadvantages. (more…)

Featured Guest Author: The Tankless Hot Water Heater and the World of Tomorrow

By: Keby Boyer

Keby Boyer is an award winning, full-time freelance writer; she has been on staff with such magazines as Beautiful Homes, Kitchen and Bath Ideas, and Remodel –all  part of the Better Homes & Garden family of publications.

During the Depression when my grandfather was a spry young man, he owned an apartment house. The old mansion-turned-apartments featured hardwood floors, Italian marble sinks and a hot water heater on the roof, stoked by of all things, coal. (more…)