Much of the country has been experiencing some dangerous heat and the mercury seems to just keep rising! It’s been over 90 degrees here in Atlanta for the past 12 days.
I’ve had a handful of people mention to me that they need to replace their old air conditioners and a lot of questions about ENERGY STAR® qualified AC’s. I pulled together some information to help those of you who are looking to buy a new air conditioner for your home because finding the right air conditioner for your living room, bedroom or home office can sometimes be a tough task. So whether you choose a window, portable or built-in wall unit; an air conditioner can help keep your home comfortable through the warm summer months, we’ve got some great info to help you along the way.
Check out these three easy steps to finding the right air conditioner for your space. We also have this great guide to help you learn more about AC’s so that you can make the best decision for your needs and budget.
Being efficient is just as important as being cool, so here are five great energy saving tips to think about when you are purchasing a new air conditioner:
1. Consider air conditioners with an EER (Energy Efficiency Rating) of 9.7 or higher. The EER is calculated by dividing the number of BTU’s by the wattage of the air conditioner.
2. ENERGY STAR qualified air conditioners are at least 10% more efficient than other models.
3. If placing a unit in the kitchen, select a unit with an additional 4,000 BTU’s than what is required by the size of the room.
4. For rooms that regularly contain more than 2 people add an additional 600 BTU’s per person.
5. For rooms with excessive sunlight, select a unit with 10% more BTU’s than what is required by the size of the room.
I hope this info helps you get started on finding the right AC unit for you. Have any unique tips on how to keep cool this summer? Share them below!