AC Doctor's online Energy Calculators help you determine the effect that high-efficiency cooling and heating solutions can have on your finances and your environmental footprint. Start by entering your zip code so our calculator can approximate how many hours your HVAC system will run per year, then adjust each of the other fields having a white background. Click the Calculate button to see your potential savings. Change Your Zip Code: <1940 1940-1949 1950-1959 1960-1969 1970-1979 1980-1989 1990-1999 2000-Present <1960 1960-1969 1970-1974 1975-1983 1984-1987 1988-1991 >1992 Summary of Benefits for 1 Central Air Conditioner(s)  Summary of Benefits for Furnance Net life cycle savings (life cycle savings - additional cost) Simple payback of additional cost (years) Life cycle energy saved (kWhMMBtu) Life cycle air pollution reduction (lbs of CO2) Number of cars removed from the road for a year

Air pollution reduction equivalence (acres of forest) Savings as a percent of retail price Annual and Life Cycle Costs and Savings for 1 Central Air Conditioner(s)  Annual and Life Cycle Costs and Savings for Furnance Savings withHIGH EFFICIENCY UNITInstalling a new air conditioning system is a major but necessary expense. While being miserable in the summer heat is no fun, it's important to know how to finance a new AC unit or system by comparing all options. home air conditioning parts suppliesThree common methods for paying for installation of your new air conditioning or HVAC system include credit cards, contractors' in-house financing and using a personal loan from a financial institution.central ac unit does not turn on Homeowners may have generous credit lines associated with credit cards, but using a credit card to fund your new AC unit can be costly and possibly detrimental to your credit scores. central ac unit price

According to FICO, a major U.S. credit scoring company, amounts owed account for about 30 percent of your credit scores. Depending on your credit standing, your credit cards may also carry higher interest rates than for a personal loan from your bank or other financial institution. Contractors may offer financing for air conditioning equipment and installation costs. While this may be convenient, it's important to review the terms of the financing provided and compare the cost with other financing options. The Federal Trade Commission advises that financing home improvements can carry potential risks unless you've carefully reviewed interest rates, repayment terms and the "small print" for any financing you're considering. Most importantly, it's essential to know whether or not contractor financing puts a lien against your home. Failing to determine this can potentially lead to foreclosure and the loss of your home if you cannot repay your loan. Home equity loans and lines of credit can provide financing for home improvements at lower rates than unsecured loan options, but it's important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of tapping your home equity for goods and services that can be financed without mortgaging your home and reducing the "security cushion" provided by home equity.

Banks and other financial institutions offer personal loans, also called signature loans, for a variety of purposes. The major advantage of personal loans is that they are not secured by your home or other collateral. You can buy and install your new air conditioner or HVAC system without using your home as collateral. When shopping for a personal loan, it's important to request and review several loan quotes as lender fees, loan terms and interest rates can vary. In general, a personal loan is made for a specific amount with a fixed interest rate and consistent installment payments. This works well for a one-time home improvement, such as installing new air conditioning. If you're considering installing air conditioning or HVAC as part of a major home renovation, a personal line of credit provides access to funds as needed up to your available credit limit. Personal credit lines typically carry variable interest rates and repayment terms; again, it's important to shop and compare multiple quotes for finding your best option.

Before making a final decision on how to finance a new ac unit, be sure to shop carefully for equipment and contractors. Installing environmentally friendly air conditioning equipment and comparing local contractors can also help you save in the near and longer term.No sugar coating here: The housing market is in trouble. But some experts say that it will start turning around as early as 2010. So while you’re waiting for it to recover, you might want to reconsider putting off that kitchen redo or landscaping job. “Any changes you make on your house now should increase your home value later,” says Kermit Baker, project director for the Remodeling Futures program at Harvard University. But which projects will yield the most bang for your buck? Take a look at this list, starting with the upgrades most likely to recoup your investment, and then enjoy that gleaming new kitchen.1. PaintingWhy it pays off: Paint provides dramatic results with little investment. If you decide to hire a professional to do the work, expect to pay $3,600 to $6,000 for the interior of an average American house (about 2,400 square feet).

An exterior paint job will run $5,000 or more. Can’t decide on a color? ), says that pale yellow homes tend to sell faster and for more money. Barbara Richardson, the director of color marketing for Glidden and a noted color-trend forecaster, explains, “Yellow is optimistic and inspirational. It gives people joy and the sense that brighter times are ahead.”2. Adding SidingWhy it pays off: According to the 2007 Cost vs. Value Report, a study conducted by Remodeling magazine, fiber-cement siding (which is made of sand, cement, and cellulose fibers and costs an average of $13,200) is estimated to recoup about 88 percent (or $11,635) of a home owner’s initial investment. While vinyl can crack, split, and warp and aluminum tends to dent and fade, easy-care fiber cement holds up well against the elements and is resistant to fire, rotting, and termites.3. Building a DeckWhy it pays off: A deck will provide you with more than a place to flip burgers and soak up the sun. “Buyers see a deck as offering a seamless transition from inside to out,” says Jerry Levine, president of the Levine Group, an architectural and construction firm in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Experts suggest using natural, rustic wood. In 2007 wooden decks (as opposed to concrete or composite ones) reaped an impressive return on investment: Home owners who spent an average of $10,350 on lumber and labor could expect to recoup $8,840, or 85 percent of their costs.4. Updating the KitchenWhy it pays off: You really can’t go wrong with remodeling your kitchen, which can net up to 83 percent of the cost. “People know that renovating can be a nightmare, and potential buyers will appreciate that you did the dirty work for them,” says Vern Yip, a designer and the host of HGTV’s Deserving Design. “But stick with high-quality fixtures, like stainless-steel appliances and granite counters, and don’t pair them with a cheaper material, like laminate.” A word of caution: If your house is a tiny two-bedroom bungalow, don’t bother splurging on, say, a high-end stove. “You’ll never get your money back by installing fancy appliances in a smaller home,” says Leslie Sellers, vice president of the Appraisal Institute, an association of real estate–appraisal professionals in Chicago.

And if an appliance overhaul isn’t in the cards, “you can easily make cosmetic updates on a kitchen that’s in decent shape,” says Steven D. Bullock, a designer in New York City and a certified member of the National Kitchen & Bath Association, in Hackettstown, New Jersey. For example, if your existing appliances are in good working order, coat them with electrostatic paint to give them a metallic or enamel-type finish. And you don’t have to rip out your cabinets, either. 5. Replacing the WindowsWhy it pays off: If you’re experiencing cool and blustery weather…in your living room, it’s time to buy new panes, pronto. Not only are you losing precious heat but your utility bill could also be skyrocketing. “Energy-efficient windows eliminate drafts, so your home feels warmer,” says Sellers. Last year home owners who spent $11,400 on 10 three-by-five-foot insulated vinyl or aluminum-clad windows got an 81 percent ($9,240) return.6. Modifying a BathroomWhy it pays off: Bathroom upgrades, like updated countertops and new fixtures, provide solid returns―anywhere from 68 to 78 percent.

But “avoid anything too trendy,” says designer Vern Yip. “Choose classic features, like off-white subway tiles, that will appeal to people with both traditional and contemporary tastes.” There’s no need to splurge on fancy fixtures, either. “A tub is a tub. A Jacuzzi will never make or break a sale,” says designer Steven D. Bullock. For quick touch-ups on existing sinks, toilets, and tubs, consider hiring Miracle Method, a surface-restoration company that recoats ceramic, porcelain, and fiberglass fixtures with a chemical bonding agent that looks like shiny new porcelain. 7. LandscapingWhy it pays off: The front of your house is the first thing people see, so it makes sense that any improvements―from planting petunias to surrounding your home with a hedge―will be worth your while. “Don’t be afraid to spend money on perennials, which come back year after year,” says Yip. As for big-ticket investments, like trees, they aren’t just nice to look at; they also stave off erosion, block storm-water runoff, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, and filter groundwater pollutants.

They might make your home sell for more money, too. The Arbor Day Foundation estimates a six- to eight-foot Colorado blue spruce or live oak (both are commonly found all around the United States) may grow one to two feet a year. And properties with gorgeous, established trees are even more attractive to potential home buyers down the road. When determining which areas of your yard to attend to first, try approaching the house from the curb to the front door. “Buyers make their decisions in exactly eight seconds,” says Barbara Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Group, a Manhattan real estate firm. “After that, they’ve either fallen in love or are just honoring an appointment.”8. Installing Central Air-ConditioningWhy it pays off: Adding central air to an average 2,400-square-foot house could cost upward of $10,000 and boost your home’s value by 10 to 20 percent, says appraiser Leslie Sellers. And central air-conditioning is energy-efficient too. Centralized units have an average energy-efficiency rating (EER) of 11.5, compared with an 8.5 EER in single-window models, making them less expensive to run.

What’s more, central air won’t block the view the way a window unit does.9. Fixing up the BasementWhy it pays off: “There’s nothing worse than that unmistakable damp-basement smell,” says Corcoran. “A dry basement is far more important than worrying about the right lighting or furnishings.” If your basement is prone to flooding, leaks, or excess moisture, call in a pro. If you do want to finish your basement by adding drywall, insulation, laminate flooring, or even a bathroom, “be sure it’s proportional in quality to other areas of your home,” says Lonny Rutherford, a chairman of the National Association of Home Builders Remodelers, in Washington, D.C. According to Sellers, “basement remodels gain back anywhere from 50 to 100 percent, depending on the quality of the materials.” 10. Putting in a Swimming PoolWhy it pays off: When you’re deciding whether to install a pool, it’s important to consider the part of the country where you live. In places where it can get unforgivingly hot, such as Arizona and Florida, an inground pool may boost a home’s value by up to 8 percent, according to a 2003 study by the National Association of Realtors.