Cool runnings – How much electricity does a portable air conditioning unit use? It makes a nice change to have a summer in which keeping cool is the only problem! There’s certainly been a rush for fans in the shops this year, with portable air conditioner units becoming the ‘must have’ electrical item this summer, whether it’s to cool an office or home environment.  So how do they work? and more importantly how much do they cost to run? An air conditioner works in the same way as your fridge, cooling your room by passing warm air over a cold evaporator coil, and then blowing cooled air into your room.  This process also generates hot air that needs to be vented out of the building by an exhaust hose, usually placed through a window. Another often forgotten element of this cooling process is that it generates water and dries the air, that’s why portable air conditioning units have water tanks that need to be emptied. How do I keep my room cool and my air conditioning unit running efficiently?

Carrying on the fridge theme… if you think of your room as a fridge, the last thing you’d do is leave the fridge door open, the same applies to the room you’re trying to cool. Keep your space well sealed by closing doors and windows, this will ensure you get the best out of the air con unit. Closing blinds and curtains will reduce the heat from sunshine through windows and doors. Good levels of insulation will help keep rooms cooler in summer, as well as warmer in winter.  Hot summers may be a rare experience for the UK, but travel to Europe – France, Spain, or Italy and you’ll find plenty of external shutters preventing the suns heat entering the room. What do you look for when buy an air conditioner?  A thermostat is pretty crucial!  You don’t want to waste energy trying to get your room too cold, and a timer is good bet also.  Like other electrical applicances, air conditioners have energy efficiency labels, graded from A to G for energy efficiency; go for the best you can afford and save long-term.

Washable pre filters and odour eating carbon filters are useful features. How much do they cost to run? Just check the power consumption figures, then use Sust-it’s energy cost calculator to see what that will cost to run per hour.  Click here to see the potential air conditioner running costs. Air Conditioning Units ranked by annual running cost See the most energy efficient... Compare running costs & prices You can compare the running costs and prices of thousands of electrical products with Sust-it, simply choose from the options below: Energy Efficient Electricals WASHING & DRYING  · Upright Fridges - SmallUpright Fridges - MediumUpright Fridges - LargeLarder Fridges - SmallLarder Fridges - MediumLarder Fridges - LargeUpright Freezers - SmallUpright Freezers - MediumUpright Freezers - LargeChest Freezers - SmallChest Freezers - MediumChest Freezers - LargeFridge Freezers - SmallFridge Freezers - MediumFridge Freezers - Large

American Style Fridge Freezers PRINTERS & COPIERS  · Home & Business Projectors Low Energy LED Bulb Prices Bayonet Fitting / BC / B22 LED Bulb Golf Ball LED Bulb L1 Dedicated Low Energy Bulbwall ac unit removal Screw Fitting / ES / E27 LED Bulbac unit in the sun Small Bayonet Fitting / SBC / B15 LED Bulbhow much does a wall ac unit cost Small Screw Fitting / SES / E14 LED Bulb Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaners before you can post.It's easy to determine the costs of running your appliances. You can use this tool to determine the approximate energy usage and cost of most major electric appliances. The Electric Appliance Calculator is an estimate cost of appliances. Actual costs may vary between customers. For the most accurate estimate of your home, complete an Energy Analysis.

Electricity is measured in kilowatt-hours (abbreviated kWh). equal to the power used by ten 100-watt bulbs for one hour. The current urban charge for electricity from WPS isIf you would like to change the rate used in the calculations above, enter a new rate below and click the "Update" button. Knowing that your bill varies for a number of reasons helps you understand the "why" of increased energy use. But it doesn't give you the "how" of managing your costs. chart to the right shows how we use energy in our homes. Managing your use of these items will have the greatest impact on your bill. Your local library can also be a great place to learn more about energy efficiency. Many local libraries have Watt Meters available to their patrons. is a tool that measures the electric consumption of plug-in appliances. the watt meter into a socket and then plug an appliance or lighting fixture into theIt is an easy way to determine how much electricity — and money — it

requires to operate various appliances. Propane vs. Electric Heat: Cost & Benefits Comparison | Comparing benefits & cost of Propane vs. Electric heatPropane heat is more economical and more efficient than electric heat. anything in your house, restaurant or building that can run on electricity can runHowever, the cost of a propane fueled home is actually less than the cost of a home with electric heat. The costs of electricity and propane home heaters can be compared using the BTU (British Thermal Unit), which measures the heating value of each fuel. from the U.S. Department of Energy show that the cost of electricity is more than twice the cost of propane. Compared with electric heat, propane is better in so many ways: Propane is cheaper than electric:  According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating a home in the U.S. with a propane heating system in recent years has cost far less than heating with an electric system. In addition, over time, propane water heaters can cost one-third less to operate and recover water twice as quickly as electric water heaters.

Propane is warmer than electric: A propane gas furnace heats air to about 130°F to 140°F and operates in short intervals to minimize operating costs. An electric heat pump produces heat below body temperature (98.6°F), so the air actually feels cool when placing your hand in front of a vent. Propane furnaces last longer than electric heat pumps: Propane-fueled furnaces last 5 to 10 years longer than electric heat pumps, on average. Propane is more dependable than electric: Propane can be stored safely in a tank on your property, while electricity is subject to power outages. Reliable propane works when and where other energy sources don't - which makes it quite versatile. Propane is clean: Propane has long been recognized as the "green" energy. By using this exceptional energy, homeowners can help cut emissions and protect the environment. Propane is an approved alternative fuel listed in both the Clean Air Act of 1990 and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992. Moreover, because propane is a gas heat, it doesn't spill, pool, or leave a residue.

Propane is safe: Propane has quite a remarkable safety record, due in large part to the stringent codes and regulations developed by the propane industry and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Propane heat also has built-in safety properties: It won't ignite when combined with air unless the source of ignition reaches 940°F. Propane gas is nontoxic and produces minimal emissions, and is not harmful to soil or water. With propane, what you see is what you get. While electricity is measured in hard-to-understand "kilowatt hours," propane is measured in familiar "gallons." Propane is customer-friendly: With propane, you get 24/7 customer service and support from your local Petro team, - who all live and work where you do - not from the big power companies. For the same heating value, propane offers remarkable savings and benefits over electricity, even when you break it down by appliance: Propane gas furnaces Consistently supply air at 120°F. Electric heat pumps dispense 95°F air, which is less than body temperature (98.6°F), so the air feels cool, not warm.

Last an average of 20 years, while electric heat pumps last an average of 12 years. Have lower repair costs than electric heat pumps Propane gas water heaters Cost approximately $10 less per month to operate than comparable electric units On average are 42% less expensive than electric heaters. Over an average life span, they can save homeowners nearly $2,000 more than an electric unit Heat more than twice as much water in an hour as comparable electric models Propane gas-burning fireplaces Cost between 30% and 60% less per hour of operation than wood-burning fireplaces Emit 40 times fewer emissions than wood-burning units and cost less to operate They can be turned off easily with a switch, eliminating concern about remaining embers Propane gas-burning cooktops and ovens Offer instant heat and absolute temperature control — 97% of professional chefs prefer cooking with gas heat Propane gas clothes dryers Can complete drying tasks in approximately three-quarters of the time it takes an electric unit Some models save up to 65% in costs over electric dryers Start saving on your electric heating bills and switch to propane today!