Air Conditioning Works to Become Sustainable

According to “Recreation Center Focus of ASHRAE Student Design Competition” by Jodi Dunlop. http://www.ashrae.org/pressroom/detail/16825 last access 8-29-08. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) began in 1894 and works towards promoting sustainability in their fields. As such, they held a contest this year to see which undergraduate team of students could come up with the best looking, most efficient and sustainable air conditioning and heating for a new recreation center to be built. Students and their faculty advisors had to choose where they would get the energy to run their units. Those who placed used a combination of geo and solar heat sources. One team even used a solar dehumidifier over the pool section.

First place in the architectural design category is awarded to Alexandra Gibson, Justina Jones, Bryan Quarles and Bazigha Tufail of The University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. Their advisor is Brian A. Rock, Ph.D., P.E. Their design was based on their goal of using sustainable technologies for HVAC&R, lighting, energy supply and water use. Key features include a green roof to combat the urban heat effect and to provide extra roof insulation as well as contributing to CO2 absorption/oxygen output; rainwater harvesting; development of proper lighting controls detecting the amount of daylight penetration, efficient illumination fixtures and the use of light shelves for indirect lighting; and photovoltaic panels to minimize electricity use. “To produce a building that includes all of these ideas while remaining beautiful and also acting as an educational tool, integration of these systems from the beginning from the design was a key element,” the students wrote.

The first step in coming up with new ideas is putting them out there. The heating and cooling industry, as well as consumers looking to install systems in their homes need to be aware of the greener alternatives out there.

Back to School Air

Source: “Fresh Air is in Short Supply at Many Schools” http://www.generationgreen.org/school%20air%20quality%20overview.htm At this time of year, when children are going back to school – not that any parent needs more to worry about – one thing that can easily be forgotten is the air quality in those schools children are going back to.

School Air Quality – Indoors?

Children, spend a majority of their time at school – sometimes up to 8 hours a day. If they are spending that time in allergen filled air, being circulated by outdated air conditioning systems right into their lungs. With asthma a growing concern, as more and more children are being diagnosed with it each year. And yes, indoor air can be as damaging as outside air, depending on what children are exposed to.

So… WHAT CAN WE DO?

The schools (if made aware) CAN make changes in their systems and there are governmental resources to help them. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even offers a toolkit and incentives to help schools through the process. http://www.epa.gov/iaq/schools/. If your child has asthma, make sure to find out what your child’s school is doing about their indoor quality and when the last time it was tested. If you don’t ask – you’ll never know.

How can you be sure that your air at home is safe?

Many air conditioning manufacturers are now providing special air filters or added air protection that can be added to a unit. Companies are even offering stand alone humidifiers or purifiers that will circulate through the central ducting. If your home is more susceptible to dust or allergens or someone living there has special needs, these filters might be a good option to consider.

Find out more

http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/airquality/index.shtml Carrier, one of the leading innovators in the heating and air conditioning field offers ventilators, humidifiers, ultra violet lamps and various types of filters. http://www.bryant.com/learnmore/guides/homehealth.shtml Bryant offers ventilators, humidifiers, filters and electronically cleans the air. They advertise a removal of pests up to 99.9%

What is Puron?

There are two main types of refrigerant used in air conditioners. One of them is R-22, which uses a chlorinated based cooling agent and is harmful to the environment. The other is Puron or 410A. Puron is better for the environment. Surfing the Carrier webpage today I found a really good tutorial that explains the difference between the two, reasons and other things one might need to know about refrigerant in a really user-friendly setting. Check it out...

Shrink Your Energy Bill

Pandolfi, Keith. “10 Ways to Shrink Your Energy Bills” in This Old House Magazine Online. http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20169070,00.html?xid=CNN-060909-shrink-bills&cnn=yes last access 8/22/08.

“1. CHOKE YOUR CHIMNEY”

If you have a chimney, it is a good idea to keep a working damper installed. This will prevent air conditioning cooled air (or furnace warmed air) from escaping out the chimney. Why run your air conditioner if you’re going to cool the outside? Make sure the damper is closed when you’re not using your chimney. Savings felt = immediately.

“2. SEAL AIR LEAKS”

This means that cracks around the windows, doors, piping and wiring need to be closed up. Caulking or installing weather-stripping around windows can save you “more than 10% on your heating bills.” Hardware stores even sell kits that can help you seal up your home. While this one takes a little longer to pay back, it is definitely worth a tiny bit of extra effort. Savings felt = 6mos to a year.

3. TUNE UP TUNE UP GIDDE-YUP

If your heating and air conditioning system is a well-oiled machine, it can serve your cooling/heating needs for LESS! Call your Air systems’ contractor to sign your unit up for a service. Off peak services are also beneficial, to avoid longer wait times. Savings felt = one heating or cooling season.

“4. GIVE IN TO ENERGY STAR”

If you partner with energy star and buy their appliances you will save on your energy bills. Sometimes, the local agencies (electric/gas/water…depending) will even offer rebates for replacing your old appliances. According to the “This Old House Magazine” you can save “$110 annually for replacing your clothes washer.” Savings felt = depending on the appliance. 5 years for a fridge, 7-8 years for a clothes/dishwasher.

“5. MAKE YOUR ATTIC MORE CUSH”

Especially if you have an older house, insulating the attic can be a very cost effective way of saving on your energy bills. Often times, before the building codes were as complex as they are today, the amount of insulation was left up to the individual contractor. They also have a link on their page teaching how a homeowner can beef up their insulation themselves. Savings felt = 3-5 years.

“6. EMBRACE THE PELLET STOVE”

This has got to be for people living in the boonies, but I guess it’s a pretty good idea. They have stoves that run off of sawdust pellets…I wonder what that does to the environment. But, one of the benefits is saving up to 50% on your heating bill – that’s pretty significant.

“7. TAKE CHEAPER SHOWERS”

A little redundant here – they suggest upgrading to an energy star approved water heater. Check with your local gas company or energystar.gov to see if they are currently running any tax brakes or incentives to switching over. Your local city hall is also a good place to look for homeowner’s benefits.

“8. FIND SOME PERFECT STORMS”

TOH (this old house) suggests putting in storm windows (that are triple paned), to prevent energy from leaking out of traditional glass panes. Especially if you have windows with large surface areas, this might be a good option. Upgrading to double-paned windows is another option if you don’t want to do the whole storm lockdown thing. Savings felt = 2-5 years.

“9. ADDRESS THE BEAST IN THE BASEMENT”

TOH recommends replacing your furnace. I couldn’t agree more. Technology has come so far in a short span of time. Heating is measured in BTUs and instead of having an efficiency ratio like air conditioners; heaters are measured by the ratio of waste to actual heating. The southern California gas company (for example) is offering rebates for 92% AFUE (Air Fuel Utilization Efficiency) which means at 92% that 92% of the energy is being used to heat the home, while only 8% is escaping as exhaust. When compared even to an 80 AFUE model that’s 20% exhaust! Savings felt = 2-5 years.

“10. SELL YOUR HOUSE”

WHOA! That seems a bit extreme to me…like by a lot. But for some of those older homes, I guess it could be beneficial. Savings felt = immediately. Check out the full article for information on this one…

Air Conditioning Cools the Olympics

Source: http://www.commercial.carrier.com/commercial/hvac/carrier/0,3068,CLI1_DIV12_ETI11843_PID42608,00.html Carrier, one of the leading air conditioning and heating manufacturer has taken their expertise to Beijing. According to their website, “In all, Carrier provided solutions for nearly 70% of all heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contracts for the games, thanks to Carrier's superior performance, reliability and environmentally responsible products.” http://en.beijing2008.cn/venues/nac/ provides video and pictures of many of the venues used for the current Olympic games. At the moment, a big focus for the air conditioning and even all of the building agencies is energy efficiency and green building techniques. Many of the products utilized in the spaces for the games are ensured to be as efficient and ‘green’ as possible. Carrier units were used in the Water Cube and the Bird’s Nest stadiums in addition to other venues. (a complete list is available on their website- the source from above).

Ever Thought Your Air Conditioning Was Loud

Terzini, Mark. “HVAC-System Acoustics: Methods of reducing unwanted sound associated with mechanical systems in commercial buildings” HVAC System Fast Trak Newsletter www.hpac.com/fastrack/hvac-system-acoustics/ July 29, 2008. Last access 8/19/08. If you have ever noticed that your unit was being loud, this article will provide the scientific measuring system behind the amount of sound, as well as ways to combat this noise in the future. Technology always has a way of improving anoying things that we have to deal with in daily life. Hopefully, soon, air conditioners will be even less noisy. Currently, many air conditioning companies market their units using the decible rating of their outdoor compressors. These units boast “will not disturb neighbors” and “ideal for close living.” In all reality, these units are still making noise. But how much? Decibles are the measurement for sound and intensity of the sound. There is a complicated logarithm formula for figuring out the exact scale, but here is a table that is helpful in speaking about decible levels. Source: http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/GBSSCI/PHYS/CLASS/sound/u11l2b.html

rustle of leaves 10dB whisper 20dB normal conversation 60dB busy street 70dB vacuum cleaner 80dB Front row at a rock concert 110dB Carrier’s Comfort Series Air Conditioners Models: 24ACA3, 24ACA4, 24ACR3 According to http://www.residential.carrier.com/products/acheatpumps/ac/comfort.shtml as low as 74 decibels. In their literature, they compare this to the noise a dish washer makes. According to our chart, a busy street is about 70 decibels. Not too loud, but louder than a normal-level conversation. When a contractor installs an air conditioning unit, they must consider the path that the air is going to take to get to the reciever. In understanding this, the contractor can then think of the best way to install ducting to lower the sound. Sometimes going through ductwork in the ceiling isn’t the best way. With new understandings of sound and how they travel through different weights of ducts and various curves, we can better understand how to make life just a bit more comfortable.

Today in History

August 18, 1952 the news ran a story covering Time magazine's previous article (run on August 11). They interviewed the current president of Carrier Air Conditioning and Heating Products. Cloud Wampler said that he thought Air Conditioning sales would more than double 1952-1962. Hmmm...interesting piece of history. Source: "Glancing Back: The Fourth Estate" Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration News Preville, Cherie R. August. 20, 2001. Last access 8/18/08.

How to Choose a Contractor

Everyone is trying to save a buck these days…but at what expense? If you are planning work on your home or business, it is ALWAYS better to ensure that the contractor has a license (you’ll save money and hassle in the long run). So, how does one go about checking if a Contractor actually has a license? Like yeah, they have that number printed with their ads, but is it safe to assume that it’s a real number? It is so easy to check on the number, why chance it. You can verify the number easily online, by going to http://www2.cslb.ca.gov/General-Information/interactive-tools/check-a-license/license+request.asp. Or there is also a number 1-800-321-CSLB (2752). The California board’s website also offered these precautions: Source: http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/HireAContractor/WhatKindOfContractor.asp

“What Kind of Contractor Do You Need? This step helps you get started determining what type of contractor you need, and making sure they are qualified and properly licensed. Here are some guidelines to use when you begin searching for licensed contractors. By using them, and the other steps that follow, you could save yourself from financial risk and other future problems with unlicensed contractors. Determine what type of contractor you need. In California, anyone who contracts to perform work on a project that is valued at $500 or more for labor and materials must hold a current, valid license from the CSLB.” “ALERT Be advised that unlicensed individuals pose a risk to you and your family's financial security. They expose you to significant financial harm in the event that a worker is injured while on your property, if your property is damaged, if the work is incomplete and/or faulty. Few, if any, unlicensed individual has bonding or workers' compensation insurance. The quality of their work usually doesn't compare to that of a licensed contractor. Don't take the chance in order to save a few dollars. You'll probably end up paying more in the long run.” “The CSLB licenses contractors in 43 different classifications. This ranges from general contractors to swimming pool contractors, landscapers, painters, electricians, plumbers and many more. It will be easier to decide the right type of contractor if you carefully plan your project in advance and clearly define what you want done to your property.” “Understanding the difference between a general and specialty contractor. General building contractors usually oversee projects and coordinate the specific licensed subcontractors for a job. Specialty or subcontractors are usually hired to perform a single job. For example, if you want only roofing or plumbing work, you may want to hire a contractor licensed in that particular specialty. A general building contractor may also contract for specialty work, but must hold a specialty license for that work or actually have a specialty contractor do the work. The only exception is if the job requires more than two types of work on a building. Then it is appropriate for a licensed general building contractor to contract for and oversee the entire project. For example, if your kitchen remodeling will involve plumbing, electrical and carpentry work under one contract, you should hire a licensed general building contractor. Under these circumstances, a general building contractor may perform all of the work on a building, or subcontract parts of the job to contractors with specialty licenses.”

Hopefully, these tips will make your experience with a contractor a good one.

MOVIE NIGHT!!!

OK, seriously, you will have to bear with me for this entry. I will admit, the video is a little old - originally prepared in 2006 when all of the air conditioners were forced to become more efficient. So, some of the information will not make any sense - like if you are replacing your air now, you don't need to make sure that they are going to replace your indoor coil (they are already going to do that). The video is also a bit gender biased, for this I apologize. However, the animation is pretty easy to follow, and it presents a good way to explain why having a matched system is so important. The questions to be asked to contractors might also be helpful for those looking to be extra thorough.

This video is presented by a company called Coleman who specializes in Air Conditioning and Heating Units. Their video library can be found at http://www.colemanac.com/colemantv/index.asp. This same video is also available in Spanish and you can choose your definition.

All in all, it's a pretty good way to understand how an air conditioner works.

Are Your Ducts Making Your House Hot?

According to the information by James Dulley located at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080727/BUSINESS04/807270481/1017/BUSINESS, the ducting in your house might be one of the problems if your house isn’t staying cool. He suggests checking your ductwork “The walls of the ducts may be losing or gaining heat as the air makes its way from the furnace or central air conditioner to the rooms. A simple method to check this is to hold a thermometer in the register outlet air in each room.” If the temperature is significantly different, there may be a problem with the ducting. One of the solutions is to insulate the ductwork. You can also utilize the grating on the registers. If you open or close the slats you will correspondingly let more or less air into a room. If you need the living room to be cooler, close vents in rooms that you aren’t using. This will push more cool air into the room that you want it in. These are pretty simple fixes to a fairly common problem. The article also suggests some not-so-simple fixes if there is a substantial problem. One option is installing a fan into the ductwork to diffuse the air that can sometimes get ‘caught’ near the duct without circulating in the room. However, these upgrades can be costly and require professional assistance. If I were you, I would try the insulation or even check for leaks before installing a whole other fan. Ducting that makes it way through the attic might also get hot fairly quickly. There are ways to prevent heat from entering your attic – like a whole house fan or putting reflective panels on. This might also help.

What needs to be serviced on my Air Conditioner?

This article first appeared in the Austin American Statesman. Service Your Air Conditioner for Summer Comfort By Doug Garrett City of Austin Green Builder Program

We all know that we can pay our auto mechanics a little now for routine service, or pay them a lot later for a major repair. The same idea holds true for your air conditioner or heat pump. If you don't service your air conditioner or heat pump regularly, you'll find yourself uncomfortable and broke. In this article the term air conditioner will apply to a heat pump or a standard air conditioner. Both benefit equally from annual service tune-ups. An air conditioner is a very tough piece of equipment. It is engineered to withstand all sorts of abuse and keep on running. This is great in most respects, but it can lead to complacency about maintenance. Like a car, air conditioners need regular tune-ups to run properly. Without regular maintenance an air conditioner looses about 5% of it's original efficiency for each year of operation. This means that the 12 SEER unit that you bought just a few years ago may be functioning like a 9 SEER unit today! The good news is that you can recover most of that lost efficiency through regular maintenance. Studies show that with regular tune-ups a unit will maintain up to 95% of it's original efficiency. This means that the cost of an annual tune-up is recovered very quickly in savings on your monthly electric bill and reduced repair costs. A properly serviced air conditioner will also do a better job of dehumidifying your home. Many local air conditioning firms offer special prices at this time of the year. Some even offer annual service programs that insure that you will be reminded of the need to service the unit at the beginning of the cooling and heating seasons. The service check should include cleaning the condensing unit coils, checking the amp draw of the compressor, oiling the fan motors, checking that belts are well adjusted, and checking the system operating pressures and temperatures against the manufacturers specifications. One of the most important items to check is the coolant level (commonly know as Freon) in the air conditioner. A system that is only 10% low on coolant will cost about 20% more to operate! The Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) recommends that coolant levels be checked every year. If your unit is low on coolant, and more must be added, there are new laws governing its use. Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) that will damage the Earths protective ozone layer if released into the atmosphere. The laws governing CFC's now do not allow your air conditioner contractor to add Freon to a leaky system. They are first required to find and fix the leak in the system. Don't ask them to violate this law as they may loose their license if they are caught doing this. There are some things in addition to yearly tune-ups that you can do to help ensure a high level of comfort and proper system operation. First, buy good filters and change them regularly. Next, keep bushes and other materials away from the outside unit of your air conditioner. Another good idea is to avoid closing supply air outlets in your house. In almost all cases, closing supply outlets is harmful to the operation of the overall system. All equipment, even the most reliable, needs routine maintenance. Complicated equipment like today's air conditioners benefit in many ways from annual service. They recover much of their lost efficiency, they are less likely to suffer a major break down, they have a longer life span, they increase your comfort, and they operate for less money. You can also find more information including the Sustainable Building Sourcebook compiled by the City of Austin's Green Builder Program at the Sustainable Sources website. copyleft 1996: You are encouraged to copy and redistribute this article provided that you acknowledge the City of Austin's Green Builder Program as the source.

Please attach this statement.” http://www.greenbuilder.com/general/articles/AAS.AC.html

I hope that this article was helpful. Sinclair offers services and check ups. Make sure your system is running at the optimum.

How much green is too much?

Source: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/localnews/columnists/jfloyd/stories/080508dnmetfloyd.13e68202.html How much is too much? With the national climate tending towards cutting back and ‘going green’ cutting energy and utilizing better-for-the-environment products are we missing something? According to staff writer, Jacquielynn Floyd, for the Dallas Local, Morning News one political theorist went too far when he encouraged the end of air conditioning. According to Jacquielynn, “Five thousand years of recorded history confirms that human society endured before A/C was invented, but that doesn't mean they were happy about it. Mr. Carrier, whose "Apparatus for Treating Air" was patented in 1906, no doubt occupies a bejeweled throne in Paradise, surrounded by a host of angels and adoring cherubim. The temperature there is a celestial 70 degrees.” Her antagonist, Joe Klein a columnist for Time Magazine was the one who originally made the statement. His views, as she summarizes “Mr. Klein wrote a column a while back entitled "Kill Your Air Conditioner," in which he says we would be better and more virtuous Americans if we, as he does, lived without A/C.” Isn’t there some happy medium? Can’t we have cake and eat it too? Well…no. That has never worked. However, there are energy saving and smart ways to cool your home. Moreover, even if California is not as hot as Dallas is, we can still rest assured that we are doing our part to save energy. If your unit is at or above 13 SEERs and you set your thermostat at 78 degrees, you can participate in change, and not die doing so. However, if your bills keep getting higher and your unit runs longer and longer into the night – OR if you do not have a programmable thermostat – IT IS TIME TO GET A NEW UNIT!