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Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is the process of adjusting indoor air properties, such as temperature and humidity, for higher occupant comfort. Selecting the right air conditioner is important, because they can use a lot of energy and can rack up your utility bill.
Room Air Conditioners
When shopping for a room air conditioner, it's a good idea to look for an ENERGY STAR qualified model, because they will use 10% less energy than a conventional unit and often include a timer to control your usage. This will save about $50 over the lifetime of the model in utilities. According to ENERGY STAR, "If every room air conditioner sold had earned the ENERGY STAR, it would prevent 500 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to the emissions from 49,000 cars."
Central Air Conditioners
When shopping for a central air conditioner, it is a good idea to find an ENERGY STAR qualified model. According to the ENERGY STAR program, these central air conditioners "have higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) and energy efficiency ratio (EER) ratings, making them over 15% more efficient than conventional models".
According to This Old House, "When added to an existing forced-air heating system, central air for a 2,000-square-foot home costs $3,500 to $4,000 and can be done by two technicians in two to three days, often with little or no change to the ducting. For a house that needs ducts, the costs and work time double. But a contractor experienced in retrofitting can cleverly hide ductwork behind walls, in the back of closets and up in the attic with minimal cuts into walls and the ceiling and very little mess."
While room air conditioners are typically something you can install yourself, a central air conditioner will require a professional technician.