Room air conditioners just got cheaper to run, thanks to stricter standards that require Energy Star models to use at least 15 percent less energy than the minimum allowed. That can save you about $90 over the life of the unit. And tougher standards will affect all models manufactured for next year’s cooling season. Meanwhile, Consumer Reports' new comfort tests show that this year’s best room air conditioners can help you chill more quickly and quietly right now. Our new tests now include how well the models cool the area they’re sized for. The small GE AEM05LS, a CR Best Buy at $210, and large LG LW1214ER, $350, aced those comfort tests. So did the GE AEM12AS, $390. But failure to restart itself after we reduced the voltage in our brownout test makes it a bad choice where power is iffy. Most of our picks, when set on low, were about as quiet as a dishwasher. The Friedrich Kuhl SQ05N10B, $575, proved whisper quiet. It’s also the first room air conditioner we’ve tested that let’s you turn it on from your smart phone or tablet before you get home.

The noisiest of the bunch was the GE AEM08LS, $270, but it had very good scores for comfort and is excellent in brownout conditions. Check the results of our latest air conditioner tests for a model that fits your needs. But don’t buy too big. A smaller air conditioner that hums steadily along is more efficient and better at dehumidifying than a larger one that cycles on and off. Figure on 20 British thermal units (Btu) for each square foot you’re cooling and then factor in more if you have high ceilings, large doorways or windows, and if the room is in direct sunlight. car ac no cold air comes outHere are recommendations from Energy Star on how to properly size an air conditioner.how much does replacing ac unit cost View and compare all Air conditioners ratings.how to fix my home ac unit

Though Nest has made a dent in home automation with its smart thermostat, the company hasn’t really addressed those of us who live in old apartment buildings with window AC units as our only summer salvation. But GE and Quirky haven’t forgotten. Today, they’ve announced a brand new smart AC unit called the Aros, as part of their existing multi-billion dollar partnership. Thus far, that partnership has yielded a smart egg holder for your fridge, and a smart milk jug so your dairy doesn’t go sour. Personally, I’m far more excited by the Aros. The cute little window unit pairs to your smartphone, letting you set a financial budget for your AC costs. This way, Aros works to keep you cool while still keeping you under budget this summer. It also learns when you’re home and when you’re away, and turns on and off accordingly. And if its brains don’t impress you, its style will. The 8000 BTU unit has slick LED-illuminated buttons that are touch-sensitive, and it comes in all white everything (and by everything, I mean stainless steel, aluminum, and plastic).

The multi-speed fan has three speeds and three different cooling modes. For $300, the Aros can be yours. You can learn more here. Introducing Aros from Quirky on Vimeo. Oregon DOT report offers perspective for all states EIA: Another big decline in oil inventory, gasoline production Russia says no oil production cuts OPEC agreement to cut production? Don't bet on it. Car manufacturers push for quieter tires The end all verdict to A/C vs. windows down! Posted in: Car Maintenance, by Patrick DeHaan on Jul 22, 2011 12:41 PM There have long been battles between people investigating A/C vs. use of windows, so let's face it, will we ever find a true solution that always holds true? Perhaps not, but we may get close.For the ultimate verdict I was going to compare several credible sources and ultimately see if there was any sort of rhyme or reason to their research and testing, if they did any.. While definitely not a leading researcher, they've looked at published reports from credible sources and seemingly have a good fix on this battle.

, "Based on a study conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), driving with the windows up and the air conditioning on is typically a more fuel-efficient way to drive [source: Hill]. We'll get around to discussing when air conditioning isn't a more efficient option, but let's first take a look at what the SAE found.The SAE study was conducted at a General Motors wind tunnel and on a desert track. In the wind tunnel, air was forced over the front of the car and also from an angle on the front of the car to simulate a cross wind. In the desert, temperatures and vehicle speed were factored into the study. Two vehicles were used in the test, one was a full size SUV with an 8.1-liter V-8 engine and the other was a full-size sedan equipped with a 4.6-liter V-8 engine. Overall, both studies showed that driving with the windows down has a significant negative effect on the fuel efficiency -- more than using the vehicle's air conditioner.For the sedan, when the windows were down, the efficiency was reduced by 20 percent, while the SUV fuel efficiency was reduced just 8 percent [source: Hill].

These differences are an important factor in determining just how much the windows down option will affect the fuel efficiency of your vehicle. The study concluded that the more aerodynamic the vehicle, the more drag open windows will create.When driving at speeds of more than 55 miles per hour (88.5 kilometers per hour) with the windows down, there's a decrease in fuel efficiency of 20 percent or more. Although using the air conditioner decreases fuel efficiency as well, cooling the air through the compressor only decreases the fuel efficiency by about 10 percent [source: Arthur].So, when traveling at speeds around 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour) or faster, air conditioning is usually a better bet, but what about when you're simply cruising around town? Keep reading to find out how you can save a little bit of fuel on those slow-speed short trips."So HSW says that for faster speeds, A/C is better. Now on to the Chicago Tribune, another credible source:"The higher the speed, the more wind resistance affects mileage.

So, you may be saving gas by driving with the windows open and the AC off at 25 mph. But at 55 mph and faster your vehicle's aerodynamics are increasingly degraded by open windows.At highway speeds you may get better mileage with the windows up, but it may still not be better than it would be with the AC off."Poking around city traffic, aerodynamics doesn't come into the picture very much," said auto air-conditioning guru Ward Atkinson. The auto engineering consultant worked on some of General Motors' first auto AC systems in the mid-1950s. He's a regular speaker on climate control at Society of Automotive Engineers confabs.While wind resistance from running at highway speeds with your windows down may eat up more gas than running windows-up with the AC on, there is no escaping the fact that "it takes energy to cool a car," Atkinson said."So the ultimate answer- WHEN is best to use A/C over windows and vice versa? If you're driving under 45mph or so, using your windows is better. If driving faster than 45mph or so, using the A/C to keep cool is better.