The two main factors to consider when evaluating the energy efficiency of air conditioners are BTUs and Wattage. The BTU rating is how much heat the unit can remove over one hour in standardized conditions, meaning how well it cools air. The Wattage is how much energy it requires to do so. These numbers can be found in the specifications of a portable air conditioner. A third number, the Energy Efficiency Ratio, is the BTU rating divided by the Wattage used. The higher the EER, the more efficiently the unit operates. (Seasonal EER, or SEER is used for central ACs).
Air conditioner manufacturers are required to place the EER of each model on its packaging, but they don't always put it in advertising! The number is easily calculated from the BTU and Wattage numbers. Use the numbers from the spec sheet to do so, because some manufacturers exaggerate BTU ratings, for example naming a unit 12,000 when it's actually 11,500. The portable air conditioner industry is not as yet subject to standards like other types are. The government last established such standards before most of us had even heard of a portable ac. There are also no established standards for Energy Star Rating in portable ACs, but many manufacturers voluntarily comply with the 10-17 EER required for other types.
AIR CONDITIONERS
A portable air conditioner will generally operate less efficiently than a comparably powered window or split unit, because the compressor (a heat producer itself) is located inside the room instead of outside, and because the unit must pump exhaust air through a 5 inch duct, which has resistance and increases the work load. The EER is not the primary consideration when choosing an ac. Buyers will first want to make sure they get adequate cooling capacity for the intended use. As stated in other articles, it's a good idea to get a portable air conditioner that is a rated for a room larger than the one for which it is intended. The EER is then used as a comparison tool to find the unit that will adequately cool most efficiently.
Portable Air Conditioner Energy Considerations AIR CONDITIONERS
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