Air Conditioner Buying Guide Environmental ImpactEnergy UseThe electricity generated to power air conditioning carries both global and personal health consequences. In burning fossil fuels such as coal to supply electricity to homes and workplaces, power plants discharge clouds of soot and other pollutants into the atmosphere. Among these are mercury and carbon dioxide (CO2). Air conditioner use in the U.S. results in an average of about 100 million tons of CO2 emissions from power plants every year.HCFCsFormerly used as cooling agents, ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) have been replaced by hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), which deplete 95 percent less ozone. However, booming demand for air conditioners in hot climates such as India and China has upped the chemical's output in developing countries 20 to 35 percent each year, causing damage at an alarming rate and possibly setting back ozone recovery by 25 years. In industrial countries, HCFCs are being replaced with ozone-safe cooling agents and will be banned in the U.S. by 2010.

But HCFCs will be allowed in developing countries through 2040, and because they're still cheaper to use than ozone-safe chemicals, production in developing countries is expected to increase fivefold by 2010.DisposalFederal law requires that HCFCs be recovered from air conditioners and other appliances before they are dismantled for recycling or tossed in landfills, and the EPA is authorized to impose fines of up to $25,000 for failure to comply with regulations. Before discarding your old unit, search for a company that is EPA-certified to recover HCFCs. Share the Air has certified companies listed by region.Personal HealthIn the midst of sweltering heat waves, air conditioning can be a lifesaver, protecting against heat stroke and hyperthermia. But, without proper maintenance, air conditioners can also be a health hazard. Dirty filters can allow allergens, pesticides and other particulate matter to enter your home from the outside, posing threats to indoor air quality. Exposure to those pollutants can trigger a host of health problems, including allergies and asthma and eye, nose and throat irritation.«

What to Look For | What is Your Water Footprint? Find out with our footprint calculator, then pledge to cut it! Learn More About Freshwater » Help Save the Colorado River NG's new Change the Course campaign launches. When individuals pledge to use less water in their own lives, our partners carry out restoration work in the Colorado River Basin. Sustainability at National Geographic The National Geographic Society aims to be an international leader for global conservation and environmental sustainability. Learn more about the Society's green philosophy and initiatives. National Parks Collection 10-DVD Expanded Edition National Geographic Allanson Globe National Geographic Stunning Photographs National Geographic 125 Years National Geographic Atlas of the World, 10th Edition - Hardcover Age 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and older Gender Male Female Verified purchaser I recommend this product. It looks nice and easy to install.

Yes (0) No (1)  Report Yes (0) No (1) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser This features digital counter to show precise levels. If you have gas appliances, a fireplace or anything that can produce CO this is exactly what you need. air handling units working principleI have one in each rental property.cost of replacing a 5 ton ac unit Yes (1) No (0)  Report Yes (1) No (0) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser I really like this alarm, because it has a cord, so you can place it on a table, and it shows you the level of carbon monoxide. ac to dc converter buyThe only thing that I don't like about it is, it does not work unless you have a level of 30 or more. Yes (1) No (0)  Report Yes (1) No (0) Verified purchaser Been using Kidde/Nighthawk co detectors for well over twenty years.

Never had a false alarm. Ours went off one night because of a malfunction of the furnace flue. My folks had one go off because the heat exchange in the central heat leaked. Both cases probably saved lives. The two we have now are 8 and 9 years old. Units have an end of life indicator (EOL) in the display. Life expectancy is ten years. The display will show lower levels of co before it becomes dangerous. Don't waste money on one without the display. These are AC powered with battery backup and are not intended to be used on battery alone. I don't think you can go wrong. They are $10 cheaper on line than in our local store. Yes () No (0)  Report Yes () No (0) Verified purchaser This is the 2nd one of these I've had. Very convenient to be able to plug into an outlet. When backup battery is low & it beeps, it sounds exactly like the smoke detector. When/if you hear the low battery beep every 30 seconds, check the CO detector first since that is a lot easier than getting on a ladder to replace smoke detector battery & find it didn't help.

I haven't had a CO problem so it hasn't ever alarmed. Yes (3) No (0)  Report Yes (3) No (0) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser Just plug it in and you're ready to go Yes (1) No (0)  Report Yes (1) No (0) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser Bought this to replace the exact same CO detector which lasted 7 years as promised. We use it in hallway to bedrooms for peace of mind. Display clearly states when battery is low or end of life, so that you don't have to do any guesswork (there are 2 smoke detectors too in the hallway, so it can get confusing with low battery beeps) Yes (1) No (0)  Report Yes (1) No (0) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser Works great and for the price, I am a satisfied customer! So important to protect yourself and loved ones with these detectors. Yes (1) No (0)  Report Yes (1) No (0) Verified purchaser Verified purchaser I bought two of these units to replace two that that timed out after 7 years. The new ones are identical to the old ones, which fortunately never detected any CO.