Window Air Conditioning Costs Window air conditioning (A/C) units have their hot air output exterior to the building, and their cooling air output to the interior climate zone with no ductwork. The unit will occupy a window space.You will find that the cost of average window A/C varies by type of unit, its cooling (and heating) capacity and efficiency rating, preparation and special needs, and the labor rate.Window A/C: for cooling a room of 17' x 20' = 340 sq.ft.; ItemUnit CostA/C unit: 7000 BTU cooling only, 115 VAC, with all trim, weather stripping, and hardware.$253each1$253Upgrade: install new circuit; 15 amp breaker into existing space;  two outlet receptacles with box and cover.$0.85per foot32$27Material Cost$280each1$280+ Labor Cost (install AC unit)$34per hour1$34+ Labor Cost (upgrade circuit)$42per hour3$126Total Cost$440$440Window A/C: for heating and cooling a room of 39' x 40' = 1,560 sq.ft.; ItemUnit CostA/C Unit: 25000 BTU heating and cooling, 230 VAC, with all trim, weather stripping, and hardware.$977.50each1$978Upgrade: install new circuit, 30 feet of ROMEX surface mounted cable, #10/3;

single outlet box and cover.$1.66per foot32$52Material Cost$1,030each1$1,030+ Labor Cost (install AC unit)$34per hour1$34+ Labor Cost (upgrade circuit)$42per hour3$126Total Cost$1,190$1,190Other considerations and costsTaxes and permit fees are not included.This project is suitable to an able and prepared DIY person with tools. Cost to install window air conditioning in my city Cost to install window air conditioning varies greatly by region. ​are faltering​ and ocean temperatures are rising​. As this climate change trend continues and the Islands get hotter, focus once again turns to installing air conditioning in classrooms. HIDOE is not against installing AC — in 2015 there are 17 AC-related projects on Oahu alone being installed, from a new school (Hookele Elementary in Kapolei) to a new classroom building at Ewa Elementary to a series of building retrofittings. As funding is released by the state for these projects, we will continue to whittle away our lengthy project list.

However, our goal is to make all classrooms thermally comfortable in a sustainable fashion — using fact-based, data-driven methodologies that lead to effective solutions. Here are the challenges we face in addressing classroom cooling. Challenge 1: Our Budget The estimated cost of installing air conditioning and related infrastructure improvements at the schools that don’t have campus-wide AC was determined by using both the estimated and actual cost (where available) of recent projects and includes both design and construction costs.prices on new ac unitsFor example, the cost of air conditioning and related infrastructure upgrades at Pohakea Elementary School was $4.3 million when bids opened for the project in 2010. how much does a new ac and heating unit costThat equals about $110,000/classroom. do ac units use water

Pohakea is one of our smaller elementary schools with an enrollment of 573 students in 2014. By comparison, August Ahrens in Waipahu, which is one of our largest elementary schools, has over 1,400 students. Based on this actual bid result, accounting for inflation since 2010, and adjusting for the various school sizes, we have estimated that the cost to air condition the average elementary school is $5 million.The cost estimates for both middle and high schools were calculated in a similar fashion across the number and type of schools that need cooling. Total = $1.695 billion (Note: Combination elementary/intermediate schools were classified as middle schools; combination elementary/high schools were classified as high schools. We do have a cost estimate for Campbell High from 2010 which came in at over $13 million.)HIDOE has been piloting newer technology that could bring down the costs. Of the most promising is photovoltaic air conditioning (PV/AC). A portable classroom at Waianae High School is into its second year running a system using three PV panels for each air conditioning unit.

However, there are limitations to how widespread PV/AC may be deployed — it's not a good fit for many multi-story buildings, and new funds will be needed to lease/purchase and install them. HIDOE's Facilities office is analyzing how many more could be added to our schools.​We are also running pilots around portable classrooms withThere are more upfront costs in the materials and construction related to standard portables, but can save more in the long run thanks to "grid free" energy production and use. Challenge 2: Infrastructure/Electrical SystemsThe majority of Hawaii’s schools are more than 50 years old. As a result, many buildings do not have adequate electrical capacity to accommodate the increasing use of electronics including computers, and other high demand infrastructure such as air conditioning. HIDOE tackles a number of projects every year to upgrade the electrical supply and infrastructure at various schools. Because of the age of many of our schools, their electrical systems reflect a bygone era — they weren't designed to support today's high level of energy demand, requiring major upgrades.

In many neighborhoods, even the supply from the utility is inadequate. An elementary school recently bought air conditioners without the proper electrical upgrades and blew a circuit. Electricians, electrical engineers and knowledgeable contractors will tell you it is important to ensure you have the correct infrastructure before adding more than the system can handle. Challenge 3: Building Improvements Just as our older schools were not built to meet current levels of electrical use, the buildings were also not designed to be airtight. This stems from the fact that it was important for air to move through the buildings in a naturally ventilated environment. However, for an air conditioning system to function effectively, the building envelope needs to be sealed, requiring replacement of windows (typically jalousies) and doors, among other things.​ While the initial cost of the air conditioning itself is substantial, there are other continuing costs to operate the system that must be taken into account.

Factor 1: Cost of ElectricityEven if you don’t factor in the cost of the units and installation there is the cost that air conditioning adds to the Department’s electricity bill. When AC was installed at Pohakea Elementary School, the power bill more than doubled. Currently, the Department is expected to face an electricity bill of $47.6 million this year.​ The chart below shows ongoing costs of all HIDOE utilities, including electricity; we have a number of initiatives that encourage reducing and softening our usage and that keeps costs relatively flat. However, year-over-year funding of utilities from the Legislature is dropping. That makes it that difficult to run the utilities we have, let alone add to the bill.There are some promising technologies that we have mentioned that can help reduce the cost of our electricity bill. Photovoltaic air conditioning draws most of its power for use from the PV panels. Some systems can be purchased with batteries. Those system are being considered, but there are some potential concerns regarding hazardous materials.