Tag Archives: air conditioning

Summer Heat Pushes Power Demand To New Heights

It’s been a cooler than average summer up here in New England, but high temps elsewhere have pushed electric power consumption to record-setting levels. At the end of July, an Arizona heat wave sent electricity demand to a new record high. And on Tuesday, Orlando Utilities Commission set a new record for peak power demand, edging out the previous record set in 2007.

Although both utilities were able to manage the increased demand without a hitch, this is one record—like the record for biggest box office bomb—that no one wants to hold. (That dubious distinction is currently held by 47 Ronin, with a loss of ~$150 million. Ouch!)

So why isn’t a new peak great news? Just like a Hollywood flop, it can be costly. When power consumption rises to record high levels, utilities need to allocate new resources to meet the demand. Usually, that means increased expenses for consumers in the form of building new power plants or increasing new power purchases.

Fortunately, utilities are getting smarter about the way they manage demand for electricity. Through so-called “demand response” programs, they’re giving consumers incentives to use a little less power, which helps keep costs down. Sometimes information itself is enough of an incentive. For example, Orlando Utilities Commission is recommending that homeowners set their thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, about the same temperature of a typical Florida summer morning. By putting out these alerts, utilities are keeping customers comfortable—and avoiding blackouts.

With proper information and planning, utilities have shown they can manage peak demand without breaking a sweat. Or, as Ted Geisler, Arizona Public Service director of power operations, described it during the July heat wave, “We’ve been planning all year for a day just like today.”

Image credit: Chuck Coker/Flickr. CC license.

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Before Air Conditioning, Nobody Worked During The Summer

OK, so that headline’s a bit of an exaggeration. But there’s no question that air conditioning fundamentally changed the way we live and work. According to Stan Cox, especially the way we work.

Cox’s book, Losing Our Cool, was recently written up in the Washington Post‘s Wonkblog, in an article called “How air conditioning transformed the U.S. economy.” If this excerpt is to be believed, it’s really pretty amazing.

Before air-conditioning, American life followed seasonal cycles determined by weather. Workers’ productivity declined in direct proportion to the heat and humidity outside — and on the hottest days employees left work early and businesses shut their doors. Stores and theaters also closed down, unable to comfortably accommodate large groups of people in stifling interiors. Cities emptied in summers…. Houses and office buildings were designed to enhance natural cooling, and people spent summer days and evenings on porches or fire escapes.

Air conditioning has helped us survive the sweltering summers, so it’s no wonder A/C installations are taking off like a rocket in the U.S. The number of U.S. homes with central A/C grew 25 percent from 2001 through 2009. And with more of us working at home, A/C helps us set the right temperature for productivity even when we’re outside the office.

The trick is to stay comfortable, while only cooling the space we use. That way, we can save some of the money we’re spending on energy and put it toward other, cooler uses. Like a bowler hat and monocle. Or at least a decent front porch.

Image credit: simpleinsomnia/Flickr. CC license.

Why Is The Second Floor So Hot During The Summer?

It’s a simple question, but it’s one of the most common queries A/C pros hear during the summer months: Why is the second floor of my house so hot?

Let’s face it: Floor-to-floor temperature differences are frustrating and uncomfortable. And when the swings are more than a few degrees, your air conditioning system has to work overtime to catch up. Over the course of the summer, those extra energy costs add up. When nothing else works, many of us just avoid using warmer rooms until the weather cooperates. In other words, we let a heatwave dictate the way we use our homes. Crazy, right?

There are many reasons why your second floor feels like a sauna during the summer months. Here are a few of the big ones.

Hot Air Rises

You can’t argue with thermodynamics. Heat is energy, and the more heat there is in the air, the faster the molecules move. The faster the molecules move, the less dense the air becomes. Less dense hot air will “float” above denser, cooler air. The hot air rises, and the result is a warmer second floor.

The Roof Effect

Do you feel the heat from the summer sun when you step outside? So does your roof. Except your roof is always outside, and it’s almost always in direct sunlight. That means it’s absorbing heat and transferring it to the indoor air closest to the roof—in most cases your attic or second floor. In warmer climates, some roofs are designed to reflect heat away from the home. But many common roofing shingles absorb more heat than they reflect, making your upper floors hotter during sunny days.

Thermostat Placement

Most homes only have one thermostat, and for convenience, it’s often located on the first floor. That way, homeowners can access it when they enter and leave the house. But if a single thermostat controls your whole home and it’s located in the cooler lower level, your air conditioning system will never know the upper floors are too hot. Multiple temperature sensors, like ecovent’s, keep your system informed about the actual temperature of every room so that your A/C unit can adjust.

Airflow Issues

But even if you’ve got the world’s best sensors, it won’t help unless your air conditioning system can get cool air to your upper floors. The key here is balancing airflow throughout your home, and it’s not as easy as it sounds. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) technician can help you determine whether or not your home has airflow issues. And if that’s the case, ecovent can redirect conditioned air where it’s needed most. In other words, we think a lot about airflow so you don’t have to.

When your home is back into balance, you can fix those huge temperature differences between floors and reclaim control of your home—even during a heatwave. And you’ll never have to ask again, “Why is the second floor so @#&*%$ hot?”

Image credit: sakura_chihaya+/Flickr. CC license.

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