Updated by James Robertson March 2010
What to Look For
Environmental Impact
Usage Tips
What to Look For
If your current air conditioner is more than eight years old, it's time for a new one. Over the life of the product, the amount you'll save in energy bills will more than likely exceed the cost of the new unit.
The following are basic criteria to use when choosing a new system:
*BTUs: The cooling capacity of an air conditioner is measured in British thermal units per hour (Btu/hr). To find the best BTUs needed to cool your room, multiply the square footage of the space by 10 and then add 4,000.
*Energy Star rating: The Environmental Protection Agency's "Energy Star" ratings indicate that an appliance is at least 10 percent more energy-efficient than the minimum federal standards.
*EER: A room air conditioner's EER, or Energy-Efficiency Ratio, is the ratio of the cooling output divided by the unit's power consumption. The higher the EER, the more efficient the model.
*Anti-Microbial filter? Most room air conditioners come with reusable electrostatic filters, which may be treated with triclosan. If purchasing a unit with an antimicrobial filter, ask the retailer to replace it with an untreated electrostatic filter.
Check if your state energy office or local utility offer rebates and trade-ins of older models to encourage the purchase of energy-efficient units. You could end up saving $75 or more on your purchase.
If you live in a very humid climate, look for models that are good at removing moisture; ask about the rate of water removal (in pints per hour).
At the store, compare the energy consumption and usage costs of one model to another using the yellow "EnergyGuide" label on the product.
What to Look for
Environmental ImpactEnergy Use
Environmental Impacts
Energy Use
The electricity generated to power air conditioning carries both global and personal health consequences. In burning fossil fuels such as coal to supply electricity to homes and workplaces, power plants discharge clouds of soot and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Among these are mercury and carbon dioxide (CO2). Air conditioner use in the U.S. results in an average of about 100 million tons of CO2 emissions from power plants every year.
HCFCs
Formerly used as cooling agents, ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been replaced by hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which deplete 95 percent less ozone. However, booming demand for air conditioners in hot climates such as India and China has upped the chemical's output in developing countries 20 to 35 percent each year, causing damage at an alarming rate and possibly setting back ozone recovery by 25 years. In industrial countries, HCFCs are being replaced with ozone-safe cooling agents and will be banned in the U.S. by 2010. But HCFCs will be allowed in developing countries through 2040, and because they're still cheaper to use than ozone-safe chemicals, production in developing countries is expected to increase fivefold by 2010.
Disposal
Federal law requires that HCFCs be recovered from air conditioners and other appliances before they are dismantled for recycling or tossed in landfills, and the EPA is authorized to impose fines of up to $25,000 for failure to comply with regulations. Before discarding your old unit, search for a company that is EPA-certified to recover HCFCs. Share the Air has certified companies listed by region.
Personal Health
In the midst of sweltering heat waves, air conditioning can be a lifesaver, protecting against heat stroke and hyperthermia. But, without proper maintenance, air conditioners can also be a health hazard. Dirty filters can allow allergens, pesticides and other particulate matter to enter your home from the outside, posing threats to indoor air quality. Exposure to those pollutants can trigger a host of health problems, including allergies and asthma and eye, nose and throat irritation.
What to Look for
Environmental Impact
Usage Tips
Usage Tips
*Turn it down. If your unit has a thermostat, set it to 78 degrees F.
*Fan only.At night, use your air conditioner's fan-only mode.
*Use the recirculate option instead of constantly cooling hot air from outdoors.
*Turn the air conditioner off when you're out.
*Clean the filter often, (biweekly or as needed), and where possible, hose down the back of the unit to remove debris that can clog cooling coils.
*Seal leaks. Make sure window models are installed as tightly as possible to prevent hot air from seeping in around the unit's edges.
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