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Portable Air Conditioners and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) Ratings
- What You Need to Know
1. What is EER?
Each air conditioner has an energy efficiency rating
that lists how many BTU's per hour are used for each watt of power
it draws. For room air conditioners, this rating is the Energy
Efficiency Ratio, or EER. For central air conditioners, it is the
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER. These ratings are posted
on an Energy Guide Label, which must be attached in a visible place
on all new air conditioners. Many air conditioner manufacturers are
voluntary participants in the EnergyStar® labeling program.
EnergyStar-labeled appliances indicate that high EER and SEER
ratings.
2. How is EER calculated?
The EER of an air conditioner is its British thermal units (BTU)
rating over its wattage. For example, if a 10,000-BTU air
conditioner consumes 1,200 watts, its EER is 8.3 (10,000 BTU/1,200
watts). The higher the EER is, the more efficient the air
conditioning unit is. However, a higher EER is usually accompanied
by a higher price.
3. Would the higher portable air conditioner EER rating be worth
the extra cost?
Let's say that you are given a choice between two 10,000 BTU air
conditioning units. One has an EER of 8.3 and consumes 1,200 watts,
and the other has an EER of 10 and consumes 1,000 watts. Let's also
say that the price difference is $100. To calculate what the payback
period is on the more expensive unit, you need to know:
Let's also say that you plan to use the air
conditioner in the summer (approximately five months a year,
depending on where you live) and it will be operating around eight
hours a day. Say that the cost of a kilowatt-hour in your area is
approximately $0.10. The difference in energy consumption between
the two units is 200 watts, which means that every five hours, the
less expensive unit will consume 1 additional kWh (and therefore
$0.10 more) than the more expensive unit.
Assuming that there are 30 days in a month, you find that during the
summer you are operating the air conditioner:
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5 mo. x 30 days/mo. x 8 hr/day = 1200
hours
[(1200 hrs x 200 watts) / (1000 watts/kW)] x $0.10/kWh =
$24.00 |
Since the more expensive unit costs approximately
$100 more, this means that it will take about four years for the
more expensive unit to break even.
4. Can I trust BTU ratings?
Buyer Beware! Not all BTU ratings can be trusted. Just because the
BTU's are stated to be high on specific air conditioning units, this
does not mean it is necessarily true. Some manufacturers will
exaggerate the BTU's on units to raise the possibility of selling
them and others will be more conservative to cause lower EER
ratings, so keep in mind that a low portable air conditioner EER may
be misleading. It is best not to allow the EER energy rating to be
your only criteria for choosing an air conditioning unit. Research
the unit you are considering for your home and you will be happier
with your purchase. If you have any further questions, please go
ahead and give us a call.
5. What are the benefits of EER Ratings?
Products with a higher EER rating can save consumers
money in the long run. In places like offices and businesses, where
appliances are constantly running, ratings can translate into huge
savings over a short period of time. Portable ACs can be used in both the home and
the office, including larger commercial settings, to ensure both
home and business owners engage in energy efficient cooling.
See All Portable Air Conditioners
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Air & Water, Inc.
serves Orange County, Los Angeles County, Riverside
County, San Bernardino County. If you live in any
of the following zip
codes, please feel free to come see our products in
person: 92630, 90720, 90721, 92655, 92690, 92691,
92692, 92658, 92659, 92660, and 92661. |
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