Are Portable Air Conditioners More Energy Efficient Than Window Units

While some portable acs meet or exceed the governmental minimum requirement for ac energy usage to be 10 seer seasonal energy efficiency ratio many don t.

Are portable air conditioners more energy efficient than window units.

Portable units are typically bigger noisier and more expensive and use more energy. In fact most window ac units use one eighth the amount of electricity compared to central air systems. Portable ac units hover around 70 db while window ac units tend to be near 50 db which is one eighth quieter. That s because window air conditioners are usually much quieter than portable air conditioners.

Both unit types must be vented to the outside to function properly and are better as a. On the other hand a window unit is stored entirely outside of your living space which is attractive to some people who like the idea of reducing clutter. Portable air conditioners are independent movable units with exhaust hoses that are easy to install and vent out of a variety of window types. That means you get even more cooling power per btu.

Air conditioning makes the hottest summer days more enjoyable but rising energy costs and the growing awareness of energy. Window air conditioners are generally less expensive than portable air conditioners but they are more difficult to install and only fit in standard sized windows. Portable air conditioner vs. Over the long term however it pays you back with the system s remarkable energy efficiency.

One of the best things about window air conditioners is that they re very energy efficient. However the high upfront cost of purchasing and installing central and split systems work in the favor of window units. True a mini split costs more up front than a window unit. And for the ones that do you can expect to pay more.

In fact retailers report that many portable air conditioners are returned each season by dissatisfied customers. Is running cental air cheaper than running three wall air conditioners. Window ac units fall right towards the end of the air conditioner efficiency spectrum being less efficient than central air conditioning systems and split system air conditioners. That equates to about 20 30 per month to use a window air conditioner for around eight hours per day.

If all room air conditioners sold in the united states were energy star certified the cost savings would grow to more than 350 million each year preventing more than 6 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually equivalent to the emissions from over 570 000 vehicles. Here are more alternatives for keeping your home cool this summer. If noise bothers you aim for an air conditioner with the lowest db number.