It is important to research the electricity that your air conditioner can use before you buy any air conditioner. You could end up paying high monthly electricity bills and inefficient cooling if you buy the wrong unit. You want the best unit for your needs as a consumer. A unit that is extremely energy efficient will not only save you money but also help the environment. It is about using energy efficiently to get the most comfort and convenience. A room conditioner is an air conditioning unit that cools a specific room, or a group of rooms, rather than the whole house. Are you a homeowner in a small home, condo, townhouse or apartment? Do you need a permanent or preferable air conditioner installation?

A room air conditioner might be the right choice for you if you answered yes. Room air conditioners are significantly less expensive to run than central air conditioners. However, they are more efficient. Central air conditioners require higher voltage connections, but a room conditioner can be plugged into any household circuit that is 115-volt or 15-amp. A dedicated 115-volt circuit may be required for larger rooms. Only in extreme situations will you need a dedicated circuit of 230 volts. Ventilated or window-mounted room air conditioners can efficiently expel hot air. Avoid room conditioners that do not provide adequate ventilation.

You may already be familiar with the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio SEER if you are familiar with central air conditioners. EER, or Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the rating system used to rate room air conditioners. The EER of a affordable air conditioners is calculated by multiplying the cooling capacity in British Thermal Units per hour by the power input watts. Room air conditioners can be found with cooling power ranging from 5,500 to 14,000 BTU an hour. The national appliance standard requires room air conditioners built after 1990 to have an energy efficiency rating of 8.0. However, the Energy Star standards may require that some units have an EER greater than 10.7. I support the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy ACEEE recommendations. This will ensure your unit is efficient all year, and only when it is most needed – during the hottest summer months.