Energy Star is a program that labels certain products as energy efficient, letting us know that those products will not only save us money but the environment too. If a product is Energy Star compliant, it will clearly have a blue Energy Star label on it. If Energy Star puts their label on something it means that the product labeled meets strict guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy. If you are someone who wants to save money or that cares about the environment, owning Energy Star window air conditioners or any other Energy Star product may be a perfect choice. Below are 5 facts that will help you decide whether an Energy Star window air conditioner is right for you.
Fact #1
Energy Star makes it clear that it is essential for you to purchase an air conditioner with the right amount of BTU. If your air conditioner has too little or too many BTU, it will not cool the room properly and will allow for wasted energy. This will defeat the purpose of purchasing Energy Star window air conditioners. Make sure the BTU is right for the square footage you plan on cooling.
Fact #2
Air conditioners that bear the Energy Star label use at least 10% less energy than other customary models. According to Energy Star this can save you more than $60 in the lifetime of your unit. That may not seem like much but the lifetime of an air conditioner unit is only so many years, depending on how well they are cared for. Not only will you be saving money but you are helping to reduce greenhouse emissions as well, which in return is helping to save our environment.
Fact #3
Most Energy Star window air conditioners have features such as timers which help to save energy by regulating the temperature of the room. This allows the air conditioner to use less energy than if you were to keep it on high settings all the time. They may also have features such as sleep or energy saving modes.
Fact #4
The efficiency of an air conditioner is measured by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The higher the EER a unit has the more energy efficient it is. Energy Star units typically have an EER of 10 or higher. The standard EER of an air conditioner usually ranges between 8-10 EER depending on certain factors.
Fact #5
Maintenance and care is important if you want your Energy Star rated unit to work properly. In order for it to use less energy, the filters will have to be kept clean or replaced every so often. You will also want to make sure your unit is level, away from other appliances, and kept clean inside and out to assure you are using less energy and getting the most out of your Energy Star window air conditioner.
Before looking for Energy Star window air conditioners, it is important to be aware of these facts. Without the proper maintenance, usage, and knowledge of the unit, the efficiency of your unit may be lessened.