As temperatures soar across the country, even the most energy-conscious among us find ourselves lured by necessity into the cooling relief of air conditioned buildings. It’s a moral dilemma: can you justify the excessive use of energy – and the subsequent effects on the environment – for the sake of your personal health and comfort?
Energy efficiency is not just an issue for those worried about the environment. Your personal budget is affected every time you turn on your air conditioner, thanks to the increase in electrical usage and the rising cost of energy. Air conditioning your home costs money, so it pays to do whatever you can to reduce consumption.
Fortunately, there is no need to sacrifice comfort for the sake of saving a few bucks. Manufacturers of portable air conditioners like NewAir continually strive to improve the energy efficiency of their products so you can relax in comfort without feeling any guilt.
Energy efficient air conditioning is not a myth – but you do need to know how to find it.
EER, BTUs, and Energy Savings
The US Department of Energy regulates the efficiency of home appliances, setting minimum guidelines for energy usage that manufacturers must comply to. The primary measurement used for portable air conditioners is the Energy Efficient Ratio, or EER.
Calculating the EER of a portable AC is very simple: all you have to do is divide the cooling capacity of the unit (BTUs) by the energy consumption (Watts).
- BTU – The British Thermal Unit is the standard measurement for thermal heat energy used across the heating and cooling industry. It tells you how much cooling power any given model has.
- Watt – A standard unit of electricity, equal to one ampere of current per second.
So, a 10,000 BTU portable air conditioner with a 1,200 watt energy draw would have an EER of 8.3. That’s about the minimum required by the National Appliance Standards. The higher the number, the more efficiently the unit operates, and the greater your energy savings will be.
Finding the most energy efficient air conditioning is easy: just look at the EER.
Energy Efficient Air Conditioning
If you’re looking for an energy efficient portable air conditioner, there are many choices available to you. Here are some of our top recommendations to get you started:
For areas up to 325 sq. ft.
NewAir AC-10100E
- BTUs: 10,000
- EER: 11
For areas up to 425 sq. ft.
NewAir AC-12000E
- BTUs: 12,000
- EER: 10.2
For areas up to 525 sq. ft
NewAir AC-14100E
- BTUs: 14,000
- EER: 9.88
For more tips on saving energy while you keep cool this summer, check out The Green Guide to Portable Air Conditioning.