Window air conditioners can help save on summertime cooling costs. Central air conditioners and refrigerators are the two largest consumers of energy in the average home. Supplementing or replacing a central air conditioning system with a window unit can dramatically reduce your electricity consumption and overall energy costs. By selecting the proper window unit for your needs, and by setting the unit to operate at peak efficiency and during proper times, you can expect to save big on your summer cooling bills and conserve electricity at the same time. Measure the room that you want to cool using a window unit by multiplying the length of the room by the width of the room. This will give you the room's square footage. Write down the total and bring it with you when shopping for a new window unit. Compare the labels on the side of the window units to find the unit that best matches the square footage of your room. Purchasing a window unit that is designed for larger rooms will consume more electricity than a smaller unit that is designed for a smaller room.

Select the unit that best matches your needs for the most energy-efficient unit. Compare the labels on the window units that best match the size of your room for their seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER rating. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the unit is. If there are multiple options that fit the size of your room, selecting a unit with a higher SEER rating will save you more money on electricity bills over time. Set the unit's programmable timer, if it has one, to 78 degrees. This is a generally comfortable temperature that requires less energy to reach and maintain than cooler temperatures. For every one degree increase in the air conditioner setting, you will use between 1 percent and 3 percent less electricity (See Reference 3). Set the programmable timer to operate only during the hours when you are home. It's a huge waste of electricity and money to cool a room that doesn't have any people in it. Setting the timer to begin when you arrive home from work and to end when you leave for the day will save money and energy.

Set a mechanical timer at the AC outlet where the air conditioner plugs in if the unit does not have a programmable timer. Set the unit to the "On" position and set the mechanical timer to turn on when you arrive home and off when you are away. This is a simple alternative for units that don't come with as many features. The requested URL /wordpress/?p=1658 was not found on this server. Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.Electricity bill of doom June 4, 2007   Subscribe My electricity bill is out of control! I posted this question a while ago, trying to get a rough estimate of what my hydro bill would be like in my new apartment...all told, the consensus seemed to be that it would cost around $35-40 per month. This estimate was also confirmed by my landlord, based on what everyone else is paying in the building (I think there are 120+ units in my building, so they've got a pretty wide sample to draw from).

Anyways, long story short, I got nailed with a $70 bill this month. Am I doing something drastically wrong? How can I fix it? A bit of background info on my electricity use: -the lights in any given room are only on when I'm IN that room -I only run my dishwasher once every 2-3 days, once I have a full load (and even then, only using the light drying mode)what are the best central ac units -washing/drying of clothes only occurs once, maybe twice, per weekhow to make a window ac unit fit -I've been curbing my natural instinct to stand in front of the fridge and gaze longingly for much longer than necessarymake window ac unit more efficient -I leave my computer and 2 external hard drives running most of the time (although I can't imagine this being TOO detrimental to my bill)

-I use my George Foreman Grilleration G5 perhaps a little too frequently -Although not left on, I have a few appliances that are likely acting as "vampires" and passively draining electricity -I've left the air-conditioning on most of the time, although I was told by the landlord that heat exchange systems like the ones in my building are quite efficient and this shouldn't make a significant difference in my bill (was I lied to?) -There are a lot of 10-12 minute showers that happen...between my girlfriend and I, maybe 3-4 per day Anyways, I plan to talk to my landlord, etc., to see if there's a mistake, but if there isn't, what should I do about limiting this bill? (I've already started using my air conditioner only when necessary, but the showers are somewhat non-negotiable (they could be made shorter, though.))You are here » Ductless Mini-Split Air ConditionersHousehold Tips and Resources Rebates through Hawaii Energy Calculate Appliance Operating Costs

Energy Saving for Businesses RFP - Grid Services Demand Side It's very important that you select the right sized unit for your home. An undersized unit will not have the ability to effectively handle the heat in your room, causing the unit to overwork and not perform optimally. On the other hand, an oversized unit can cool a room quickly, but can create a "cold and clammy" feel due to the humidity levels that aren't lowered properly.  We have provided a quick and easy guide to selecting a proper-sized air conditioner to fit your needs. 1. Compute the Area of the Room: Assumes an 8-foot ceiling. (Use Tab key to advance to the next field) 2. Select your Air Conditioning Needs: In what environment will you be using your air conditioner? Low Heat or Night Time Only - windows/exterior walls mostly shaded from direct sunlight, well-insulated construction. Good figure for bedrooms or apartments in well-constructed high-rise buildings. Normal Conditions - windows/exterior walls moderately (50-70%) exposed to direct sunlight, ceiling with attic space above.

High Heat or Direct Sunlight - large window and wall area exposed to direct sunlight, heavy afternoon sun, and open beam ceilings. (Use your mouse to select the appropriate choice) Low Heat or Night Time Only High Heat or Direct Sunlight Consider an Air Conditioner with a BTU rating within the range to Note: Add 4,000 BTUs if the area includes a kitchen 3. Compute the Monthly Usage Hours: How much will this unit cost to operate? The Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER rating, tells you how efficient the appliance is in energy consumption. The higher the number rating, the more energy-efficient it is. Here is an example of how much it would cost to run your selected unit if it had an 8, 10, or 11 EER rating: Estimate length the A/C will be on: 4. Select Service Area for Monthly Energy Cost by EER: For other service areas, specify cents per kWh Your Energy Cost should be between: * EER value for box A can be changed to illustrate costs of Air Conditioners with other EER ratings.