It’s an age old question: What is more fuel efficient when driving a car and trying to keep cool, having the air conditioning on or the windows down?For years people have tussled over which uses more fuel, with most of the opinion that having the windows down is better up to a certain speed, when drivers should then switch to air conditioning.However, studies suggest that having the windows down could be the best solution at all speeds - and the air conditioning never needs to be turned on. Air conditioning versus rolling the windows down: which makes your car more fuel efficient? Previously it had been thought it was better to switch to air conditioning at higher speeds, but new research suggests it might always be better to roll the windows down and never touch the air conditioning button Basic physics suggests that air conditioning should perform better at higher speeds.A car’s air conditioner is essentially powered by the engine - most cars have a compressor system driven by a belt.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT DRIVINGSome people around the world known as ‘hypermilers’ consider themselves professionals when it comes to maximising car fuel efficiency.They do this through a number of methods that may seem slightly odd to some.This includes keeping the windows up and the air conditioning off.But some go to rather more extreme measures, such as wearing ice vests to keep cool.They are also known to tailgate large vehicles to get in their slipstream and keep fuel use down.Others do their best to avoid braking at all costs or even turn off their engine while moving. When driving at slower speeds, the small but continuous effect of having the air conditioning on means the car’s engine works harder, and thus more fuel is used. At speeds of 70 miles (110 km) per hour on a motorway, however, it is often said that the effect of air conditioning on fuel efficiency is negligible when compared to having windows open.Depending on speed, having air conditioning on at a medium level can reduce the fuel efficiency of a car down by up to 10 per cent, according to Vox.At slower speeds it makes more sense to have the windows open to cool the car down - air easily circulates from outside to inside the car without causing too much drag.

As speed is increased, however, the air resistance on the car also increases, meaning the engine has to work harder to maintain the car’s speed down the road as it becomes less aerodynamic.So, at higher speeds air conditioning is surely the winner - at least, that’s what was previously thought.But new research by Vox suggests this is not the case. A 2004 study by the Society of Automobile Engineers found that Sedans used more fuel when air conditioning was on than when windows were down. Note the axis on the left is gallons per mile, so a higher number is worse performing As a car's speed increases, so too does its air resistance. A car travelling at 70 miles per hour experiences four times as much drag as one travelling at 35 miles per hour. This might suggest it is better to have the windows up, but research shows that air conditioning is worse for fuel efficiency even at these speeds Taking a look at previous studies, they found that it was actually more efficient to have the windows down for any speed expected on a road.

In 2004, for example, the Society of Automobile Engineers found that both SUVs and Sedans were considerably less efficient at all speeds up to 70 miles (110 kilometres) per hour when using air conditioning over having the windows down.A test by popular American TV show Mythbusters, meanwhile, found similar results.This is despite the fact that drag doubles as speed increases - for example, a car travelling at 70 miles per hour will have twice as much force pushing against it than one travelling at 35 miles per hour.average price for an air conditioning unitThe reason is that air conditioning eats up more fuel that previously thought, while the effects of drag by having a window open are not as bad as most think.window ac unit in a vanSo it seems the solution to being both fuel efficient and keeping cool as the weather heats up might be to leave the air conditioning off, and crank the window open just a bit.how do wall mounted ac units work

Of course, if you really want to be fuel efficient you might decide to forego both having the air conditioning on and rolling your windows down - you’ll just have to bear the heat while driving. The Society of Automobile Engineers found the effect was even more pronounced in SUVs, where air conditioning became less and less efficient at higher speeds Non-members pay 10% surchargeJoin now! Member reviews & questions GEs 8,050 BTU ENERGY STAR 115 Volt Window Air Conditioner is designed to cool up to 450 square feet. Conveniently cool your living space with a remote control that allows you to easily set the temperature and fan speed from across the room. This GE 8,050 BTU ENERGY STAR Window Air Conditioner features electronic digital controls with three temperature settings and three fan speeds that allows you to set the optimal temperature for your comfort. Enjoy convenient features like a remote control, 24 hour on/off Timer and Power Interruption Restart that automatically resumes operation after a power outage.

Installing this air conditioner in your window is easy with an EZ Mount installation kit. GE Window Air Conditioners are proven to help reduce energy consumption to save you money on utility bills. 8,050 BTU, 115 volt 11.3 Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)/ 11.2 CEER ENERGY STAR® qualified Cools a medium room or 250-350 square feet Fits windows 22-1/2" - 38" wide, minimum height 13-1/2" Electronic digital thermostat with full-function remote control 3 cooling settings & 3 fan speeds for more cooling flexibility 4-way adjustable air direction directs cool air where you want it 24-hour Electronic Timer cools on your schedule Filter reminder light with one touch lift-out filter Energy Saver mode conserves energy and saves you money Power Interruption Restart automatically resumes operation after a power outage Easy installation with EZ Mount window kit and fixed chassis Dehumidification up to 2.3 pints per hour Non-ozone-depleting R-410A refrigerant Plug type is Parallel/NEMA 5-15 Limited one-year warranty