New York City has been breaking electricity usage records lately as a result of the extreme heat and humidity that can always be found in that part of the world in the middle of summer. Having just purchased a window air conditioner in the city myself, I thought I'd review some "best practices" for choosing an efficient room air conditioner.First off, it's very important to get the right sized air conditioner. Air conditioner cooling capacity is measured in BTUs. Larger BTU units are made for larger volumes (i.e. larger rooms). The Energy Star site has an excellent guide to choosing the right sized room air conditioner based on the room size. Since larger AC units cost more and use more energy, you'll save both by following the guidelines in the link.Air conditioner efficiency is listed on the side off all units as a number called the EER (Energy Efficiency Rating). The EER is a simple ratio of the BTUs of the unit to the amount of power it consumes in Watts. Thus an air conditioner with 10,000 BTU capacity and an EER of 10 consumes 1000 watts of power -- which is a lot.

The government mandates that all window units have a EER of at least 9.0, but there are plenty of well-priced units out there today with ratings of 10.5-11 to be had with a little bit of looking. These more efficient units will also have an Energy Star label on them because they exceed the minimum standard (9.0 EER) by at least 15%.The more BTUs or the higher the EER, generally, the higher the price of the air conditioner. However, since most people buy over sized air conditioners (too many BTUs for their purpose) and often don't look at the EER rating, it's possible to both save money on the up front purchase and reduce your monthly electric bill by getting the appropriate sized unit with a high EER.And remember to keep the thermostat at something reasonable. You're not trying to turn your apartment into an icebox, you're just trying to take the edge off the heat and humidity. If your AC has a timer feature you can use it to cool your place before you get home, but remember that an appropriately sized air conditioner will cool a room pretty quickly.

If you live in drier climates, evaporative cooling may be an alternative (and more energy efficient) means of keeping cool worth looking in to.For a list of the most efficient window unit air conditioners see the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. wide selection of air conditioners to help you find the right unit for your home and needs, whether that’s a window air conditioner, portable air conditioner, sliding casement air conditioner, or an air conditioner accessory. All pros available in your area All of our pros are: Reviews from around you Tell us what you think We require comprehensive business background checks and each pro traveling to your location to pass a 6-point criminal background check. We stand behind every service. If a customer is not satisfied, we’ll make it right or give a refund.These are the most common types of portable air conditioners, and are made for windows that slide up and down. The AC sits on your window sill and vents hot air outside.

Moisture pulled from the air in your room is also released outside. The AC may be installed permanently, or in a way that makes it easy to remove for the winter. Additional accessories can also be purchased to assist in ensuring a perfect fit for any window. A casement air conditioning unit is designed specifically for windows that swing out to the side (usually with a hand crank) or slide open sideways.air conditioning unit service Shop Casement Air Conditionerstoo large ac unit Intended for rooms with windows that cannot accommodate mounting a full AC unit, or for those who want the ability to move the AC unit from room to room. removing ac unit windowA portable air conditioner is placed on the floor and uses a flexible hose to vent hot air outside.

The venting hose can usually fit through a small space, such as the center vent often found in basement glass-block windows. Shop Portable Air Conditioners These are installed through the wall of a building in a designated opening. Wall Air Conditioners require a sleeve in order to be properly installed. Shop Wall Air Conditioners Central Air Conditioning Systems consist of one main unit that pumps cool air through ducting that runs throughout a building, eliminating the need for separate AC units in each room. If you are looking to do away with portable or window air conditioners, Abt is licensed to install central air systems. This service is only for our Chicagoland customers. Individual homes will need to be estimated before choosing and installing a central air conditioning system. Shop Central Air Conditioning Systems 1000+ sq. ft. | 400-1000 sq. ft. | < 400 sq. ft. | 9K BTUs or lessWindow Air Conditioner Size Calculator What size window air conditioner unit do you need?

This estimator will help you assess the right model for your room. Share your take on this idea!Upload your photo here. Cubic area of room to be cooled: Direction the room faces (choose one) Condition of your insulation (choose one) Number of BTUs recommended: Please note: For your convenience, this calculation has been rounded up slightly.Important reminder: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this calculation. But before purchasing materials for any project, please check amounts with your suppliers or contractors. When choosing a window air conditioner, don't assume that buying the most powerful model is the best choice. An air conditioner that is too powerful for the room will not remove enough humidity, because it cools too quickly. And of course, a model that is too weak will fail to make a room comfortable. The cooling power of an air conditioner is calculated in British Thermal Units (BTUs). (One BTU is enough energy to heat one pound of water by 1 degree F.)