Energy All-Stars: High-Efficiency Air Conditioners Room • Central • Ductless Split-System Thanks to new technology and new federal standards, air conditioners are more efficient than ever before and will improve further in the coming years. Of course, bumps in efficiency also mean bumps in price. I'd like to share an article I read on Consumers Digest with you... The government is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to making sure that you have energy-efficient appliances in your home. For example, in September 2014, new federal energy-efficiency standards went into effect for refrigerators. Now, new minimum requirements went into effect for room air conditioners and in 2015 for central air conditioners. The latest: Department of Energy is considering standards for portable air conditioners—the last vestige of the consumer air-conditioning marketplace that’s untouched by regulation. Today, energy-efficient technology that was used by only one or two manufacturers previously is widespread, and energy-efficiency ratings hit record highs.

Air conditioners are getting smarter, too—from being able to sense when you’re in a room to relieving you from making a maintenance call. ac units on wheelsContractors tell us that a malfunctioning central air conditioner now can send an email that tells the contractor the problem and which part is required so he/she can fix the air conditioner in one trip, which should cut down on maintenance costs.air handling unit clean room That’s a good thing, because more-efficient models will cost you more upfront.inside floor ac unitsIn January 2015, DOE minimum-efficiency standards went into effect that divide the United States into three territories: the north, southeast and southwest. Central air conditioners that are sold in the north still must have a minimal seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) of 13, which has been the national minimum since 2007.

However, new central air conditioners that are sold in the southwest and southeast states must achieve a SEER of at least 14. That change pushed several manufacturers to revamp their lineups. Rheem, for example, says that instead of upgrading a few models to achieve compliance, it will roll out an entirely new product lineup for 2015 that meets these new efficiency requirements, some models of which already are available. Trane, meanwhile, is bringing new models to market in addition to upgrading models that already exist in the company’s lineup. Unsurprisingly, these new models come with updated and new (read: higher) prices. Manufacturers don’t publish MSRPs for central air conditioners, but the four manufacturers with which we spoke all agreed that, in general, the new models are more expensive than their predecessors were. No across-the-board formula determines how much more a 14-SEER air conditioner will cost when compared with a 13-SEER model, says Dave Yates, who is the president of heating-and-cooling installer F.W. Behler.

He says that, in some cases, manufacturers simply expand the size of the air conditioner and use a bigger coil to get the extra point of efficiency, which is a relatively inexpensive upgrade. Others invest in new compressors or technology. In general, we found that 13- and 14-SEER central air conditioners typically cost $1,200–$3,800. How New Regional Standards Might Affect You Read Now However, Charlie McCrudden of Air Conditioning Contractors of America, which is a trade association, says making a big air conditioner can have a big effect on pricing. He recalls the last time that minimum standards went up, to 13 SEER from 10 SEER. “Suddenly, those boxes didn’t fit into trucks the way they used to,” he says. Consequently, transportation and shipping costs went up as a result of units getting bigger and trucks not being able to carry as many in a single shipment. McCrudden says manufacturers are doing more to keep their models a reasonable size, but he and other experts with whom we spoke agree that prices will climb—at least in southern states where higher efficiency now is mandated—as a result of the new standards.

Split-system air conditioners, which consist of a compressor and condenser in an outdoor metal cabinet, an indoor cabinet that contains the evaporator coil and an air-handling unit that sends cool air through a duct system, must meet similar efficiency standards—13 SEER in the north and 14 SEER in the southeast and southwest. However, split-system models that are sold in the southwest also must have a minimum energy-efficiency ratio (EER) of 12.2. EER is calculated at a single temperature—95 degrees Fahrenheit. SEER, meanwhile, is calculated at a range of 65–104 degrees F.Models & pricing at Appliances Online. Canstar Blue's Terms and Conditions apply. Of all the different types of air conditioning available, split system models tend to attract the most attention from consumers looking to keep cool in the summer months, probably because they tend to be the cheapest to buy. However, it’s important that you don’t make such a significant purchase without knowing what’s best for you, so here are some key things to keep in mind when shopping for one of the best split system air conditioners in Australia.

A split system air conditioner would be the best choice for you if: One of the benefits of split system air conditioning is flexibility, as you can cool as many or as few rooms as you want. However, the obvious downside of this is that the system will become more and more expensive with every additional room you want to be able to cool. This means it’s important to really think long and hard about which rooms you’ll truly need to be able to cool when summer rolls around. We’d recommend bedrooms and large shared spaces like living rooms as a bare minimum, and that very well may be all you end up deciding you need. The other thing to note is that a split system allows you to use different units for different rooms. To elaborate, for a small bedroom you could install a relatively low-capacity unit which would do fine in terms of cooling that single small space. On the other hand, for large shared spaces such as living rooms, you’ll definitely need a more powerful (and more expensive) unit to service that room.

The ability to pick and mix units based on the needs of individual rooms is another benefit of split system air conditioners. In order to calculate the output you’ll require for different rooms, use an online calculator like FairAir. If the answer is yes, that’s where reverse cycle air conditioner units come in – they heat and cool. If you live in a cooler climate, or just find yourself getting unpleasantly cold in winter, keep this in mind. A reverse cycle unit will generally be more expensive to buy, so it depends on how badly you want to stay warm in the winter months. These types of split system units are widely regarded as the best, because they modulate the temperature of a room instead of simply turning off the air conditioner every half an hour (or so) because the room’s getting too cold. Inverter air conditioners are typically better at maintaining a steady temperature and use less energy, but they tend to cost more to purchase. Consider whether you’re willing to stump up more money initially, to then reap the long-term benefits of lower energy bills.

Air conditioning can chew through a serious amount of electricity, so make any savings you can! If you live with someone who suffers from asthma, then purchasing an air conditioner with dust and allergen filters will do wonders for their quality of life at home. It shouldn’t be too hard to find one regardless of your price range – air filters and similar features are rather standard these days.  Additionally, you can purchase models with dehumidifying technology – perfect for houses in the tropics. Want your unit to turn off after you’ve gone to sleep? Need your house crisp and cool upon your return from work? Ask and it shall be done. Some split system models even have smartphone app access, so you can switch them on and off remotely – perfect for the days when you forget to turn the air con off the old fashioned way. While you can of course use our website to compare air conditioner brands, models and features, it’s also in your best interest to track down your preferred unit on the government’s Energy Ratings website to see what energy star rating your model achieved for both cooling and heating.