Finally some much needed smart appliance love for those without central air conditioning (and it’ll keep you cool): the Quirky Aros. Backed by GE, the New York-based start-up Quirky has combined the traditional window A/C unit with some very modern technologies to create the Nest (smart thermostat) of window air conditioners at a particularly reasonable price. On the surface, the Aros is an 8,000 BTU window A/C unit (rated to cool 350 square feet) with an almost Apple-like exterior (it looks as good as any window A/C unit I could imagine). Throw in touch capacitive buttons, Wi-Fi, and an iPhone and Android app for adjusting remotely and you’ve got your smart window air conditioner. The smartphone app doesn’t just let you control the temperature remotely… The Aros takes advantage of GPS data and can enable and disable itself based on when you arrive and leave based on location with its “smart away” feature. Aros doesn’t stop there. It also takes into account your budget, weather, and usage patterns to recommend a schedule and temperature for programming.

Pricing on the Aros is equally impressive. For context, equally rated and infinitely uglier window A/C units range from the low $200s upwards of over $500 in some instances. The Aros, with all its smarts and features (and design), retails for $300 on Amazon (Prime eligible) and is available for pre-order now with plans to ship in early May. See it in action: Submitting a tip constitutes permission to publish and syndicate. Please view our tips policy or see all contact options.Running the air conditioning can make an electricity bill skyrocket, but the alternative isn't very pretty, either. Luckily, there are a few ways that you can help your air conditioner run better and save you money as the summer months progress. 1. Quit cooling the neighborhoodIf your home isn't brand new, the cold air inside it is probably seeping out into the neighborhood through worn door and window seals, a poorly insulated attic and other sneaky cracks. To see how well your home is holding in the cold, sign up for a home energy audit with your utility provider or a local contractor.

A certified home energy rater or auditor will check your home for leaks and recommend the best way to make your home more energy efficient.Don't want to spring for an audit? Do a mini-audit yourself. Stand outside your home and run your hand along windows and doors. Can you feel the cold air escaping? If you do, caulk around leaky windows and add insulation around doors. new outside ac unit2. Make sure your thermostat is on the right wallThermostat placement can play a big part in how well your air conditioner works. room air conditioner reviews 2012If you put it on a wall right next to a hot window, for instance, your air conditioner will kick on much more often than it needs to because it will think the room is hotter than it actually is. can you turn a window ac unit on its side

Here's how to pick the perfect wall for your thermostat. 3. Close the blindsA window letting in the hot sun won't just heat up your thermostat, it'll heat you up too. During the warmest part of the day, close your window blinds. Closing the blinds keeps out the sun. It can also help insulate your windows, which stops the cold air from escaping.4. Use a fanSometimes you don't need to amp up the thermostat to feel cooler. According to the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC), using a ceiling fan can make a room feel 10 degrees cooler and uses 10 percent of the energy of a central air conditioner.If you want to get high-tech, you can install smart ceiling fans that connect to an app. You can schedule the times when these fans turn on and off, and you can control their speed without standing on your tiptoes.5. Up the temprature Many people think that leaving the air conditioner at the same temperature when you leave the house saves money because the AC won't need to work as hard to re-cool the home.

This is a myth. NRDC senior energy policy advocate Lauren Urbanek says that the most inexpensive way to use your air conditioner is to turn the thermostat up when you leave the house. Air conditioning systems operate most efficiently at full speed during longer periods of time. So kicking it on a lower temperature when you get home will save you more money than the AC cycling on and off while you're away. A programmable thermostat can make it super easy to keep your AC at the right temperature. You can program the unit to work at higher temperatures while you're at work and cool down right before you get home.6. Setting low is a no-goAlways set your thermostat to the highest temperature you can stand to save the most money. Even a little change in the temperature can save you big bucks. You can save 10 percent a year on your cooling bills by setting your thermostat just 10 to 15 degrees higher for eight hours each day, according to the Nebraska Energy Office. The US Department of Energy recommends aiming for an indoor temperature of 78 degrees F when you're at home.

There is no need to suffer through summer heat when inexpensive, energy-efficient air conditioners are widely available. Since October 26, 2015, all ENERGY STAR rated room air conditioners have been required to meet a new standard, ENERGY STAR 4.0, that sets maximum power use at 10% less than older models following the 2014 guidelines. And, when used to provide cooling only where they're needed, room air conditioners are less expensive to operate than central units. This guide will help you find the model that is right for you. A room air conditioner's efficiency is measured by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The EER is the ratio of the cooling capacity (in British thermal units [Btu] per hour) to the power input (in watts). The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner. Each increase of 1.0 on the EER scale represents a 10% increase in energy efficiency. When buying a new room air conditioner, information about the EER can be found on the EnergyGuide label for the unit.

Look for an EER of at least 12 and the ENERGY STAR label. Earning the ENERGY STAR means a product meets strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. The required cooling capacity for a room air conditioner depends on the size of the room being cooled. Room air conditioners generally have cooling capacities that range from 5,500 Btu per hour to 14,000 Btu per hour. Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provide better cooling. However, an over-sized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.To figure out which size unit is best for your cooling needs, see the Air Conditioner Cooling Needs Calculator below.

Verify that your home's electrical system can meet the unit's power requirements. Room units operate on 115-volt or 230-volt circuits. The standard household receptacle is a connection for a 115-volt branch circuit. Large room units rated at 115 volts may require a dedicated circuit and room units rated at 230 volts may require a special circuit. If you are mounting your air conditioner near the corner of a room, look for a unit that can direct its airflow in the desired direction for your room layout. If you need to mount the air conditioner at the narrow end of a long room, look for models that have a “turbo” fan mode that can drive air further into the room. Other features to look for: For those that keep to a regular schedule and don't have smart home devices installed in their home, a timer will help save money (about $100 on the air conditioner itself and your energy bill) and save you from coming home to a hot, stuffy home. For many, though, the ability to control a room air conditioner from anywhere can be a huge help and cost savings, especially if you don't stick to a schedule.

And, you can connect them to other smart home devices so they fit seamlessly into your daily routine. The Frigidaire FFRE0533S1 ($167.99 on Amazon), rated at 5,000BTU, gets high marks for its cooling and dehumidification capabilities of up to 1.1 pints per hour. The unit, which has an EER of 12.2, two cooling and two fan speeds, a 24-hour programmable timer, built-in thermostat with digital temperature readout, remote control and a four-way adjustable vent to direct air flow. The Wi-Fi connected Frigidaire FGRC0844S1 Cool Connect ($296.99 on Amazon) delivers 8,000 BTUs, enough to cool a room up to 350 square feet, with an EER of 12.0. The unit has 3 fan speeds and 2-way slanted louvers that direct airflow in an upward, circular motion for even cooling. You can create a custom 24-hour schedule or control the unit remotely with the Frigidaire app for iOS and Android or dedicated remote control. If the power goes out, the unit will automatically restart when power is restored.  

It has an air ionizer to help remove allergens, like pollen, and other impurities from the air and the magnetic front grill, which has an antibacterial filter, easily detaches for cleaning. A little planning before installing your air conditioner will save you money and energy. The unit should be level when installed, so that the inside drainage system and other mechanisms operate efficiently. If possible, install the unit in a shaded spot on your home's north or east side. Direct sunshine on the unit's outdoor heat exchanger decreases efficiency by as much as 10%. You can plant trees and shrubs to shade the air conditioner, but do not block the airflow. Don't place lamps or televisions near your air-conditioner's thermostat. The thermostat senses heat from these appliances, which can cause the air conditioner to run longer than necessary. Set your air conditioner's thermostat as high as is comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be.

Don't set your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner; it will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense. Set the fan speed on high, except on very humid days. When humidity is high, set the fan speed on low for more comfort. The low speed on humid days will cool your home better and will remove more moisture from the air because of slower air movement through the cooling equipment. Also, consider using an interior fan in conjunction with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing electricity use. We like the Haiku Home L Series 52-inch Indoor/Outdoor Wi-Fi Enabled fan ($475 on Amazon), which provides coverage for indoor or outdoor space of up to 15 by 15 feet. It has a built-in LED light (40-watt equivalent) with 16 brightness settings. And, because it's WiFi enabled, you can use your smartphone or Amazon's Alexa for control.