Ask any air-conditioning salesperson what their busiest day of sales is, and inevitably they’ll tell you, “The first hot day of the year.” Why so many people wait until it gets hot before thinking of buying an air conditioner remains one of life’s unsolvable mysteries! But when those sweltering dog days of summer have you screaming for some relief, you’ve just got to cool down the house. So, the question is, which is more energy efficient and cost-effective: a portable unit that you can move from room-to-room, or a central air conditioning system that cools the whole house but costs much more. Portable units have become increasingly popular and many are designed for use in any room of the house. Larger models that are equipped with wheels can be moved from room-to-room conveniently and without any installation problems. One argument for the portable cooling option is that it’s usually only being used in the room that you’re in; therefore you’re not wasting cold air in rooms that you’re not occupying.

Now if you’re considering getting a portable air conditioner, you need to consider the area you want to cool. Keep in mind that you should buy a portable unit based on the size of the area you want to cool. cost new ac heat pump unitIf you select a model that doesn’t have sufficient power to work efficiently in a given space, you will be wasting money as the unit works overtime to vent warm air and provide adequate cooling. portable ac unit do they workEither way, consider getting an ENERGY STAR certified model, as it will be more energy efficient.package ac unit for sale Nevertheless, in comparison to other cooling options, such as window-mounted AC units and central air, portable units are, for the most part, less energy efficient in general.

That is just an inherent part of the design of movable air conditioning. But if it’s transportability that you’re looking for, then you may consider the convenience of a portable unit worth those extra energy costs. It all comes down to your needs. In the long run, central air conditioning is the most energy efficient way of cooling a home and will add value to a property. Your best bet is to do a little homework before you purchase in order to find out what type of air conditioning system will meet your needs based on your home, space, and of course your budget. Talk to your local certified RESNET HVAC Contractor for good advice on what your most cost-effective solutions are.Dear EarthTalk: Now that hot weather is coming, I want to upgrade my home’s A-C. Which are the most energy-saving models and should I go central air or window units?—Jackie Smith, Cary, N.C. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), energy consumption for home air conditioning units accounts for more than eight percent of all the electricity produced in the U.S., at a cost to homeowners of $15 billion annually.

Besides the cost, all this cooling leads to annual emissions of about 195 million tons of CO2—or two tons per year for each American home with A/C. Of course, foregoing A/C entirely is the most energy- and cost-efficient way to go, but some of us need a little cooling for comfort, especially in warmer climates. If A/C is a must, buying the most efficient model is the way to save money and pollute less. Fortunately, a new generation of much more efficient room and central A/C units means that upgrading will likely pay for itself in energy savings within just a few years. The main factors to consider in choosing a new model are cooling capacity (measured in British Thermal Units, or BTUs) and Energy-Efficiency Ratio, or EER. To determine the correct BTU rating for a given space, multiply the square footage by 10 and then add 4,000. Meanwhile, a given unit’s EER is the ratio of cooling output divided by power consumption—the higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, national appliance standards require room air conditioners to have an EER of 8.0 to 9.8 or more, depending on type and capacity. Units with an EER rating of 10 or above typically qualify for the federal government’s ENERGY STAR label, which appears on especially energy-efficient appliances. Check out the ENERGY STAR website for lists of qualifying A/C models. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) says that the average EER of room A/C units rose 47 percent from 1972 to 1991. To wit, replacing an older room unit with an EER of five with a new model with an EER of 10) would result in a 50 percent energy cost savings associated with A/C. As to whether room units or central A/C makes more sense, it depends. Room units, which only cost a few hundred dollars each, will suffice for renters or those who only need to keep one or two rooms cool at a time. Meanwhile, central A/C is more efficient overall at keeping a whole house cool, and will also do a better job at reducing household humidity than even several individual room units—and will save more money faster on electricity bills.

But with a starting price of around $4,000 for the condenser and initial set-up (plus any duct work needed to distribute cool air around a home), central A/C isn’t for everyone. ACEEE points out that there are ways to keep indoor space cooler without A/C: improving insulation, sealing air gaps, getting rid of old appliances and light bulbs that give off lots of heat, running fans, using cooler colors on exterior roofing and paint, and other strategies. Those in particularly arid climates might also consider installing a swamp cooler (which cools outside air by running it over cold water) as a cheaper alternative to A/C. By following these suggestions and upgrading conscientiously, we can all stay a little more comfortable in our warming world without exacerbating the problem too much.Our section of the Milky Way might be much bigger than previously thoughtWhat are the differences between Payne and Carrier air conditioners? The difference between Payne and Carrier air conditioners is that while Carrier offers duct-free and central units, Payne provides only central air conditioners.

The SEER rating of Payne units ranges from 13 to 17, whereas Carrier units have SEER ratings up to 21. Carrier air units are slightly more expensive. Where are Payne air conditioners made? What stores carry Payne ac parts? Both Payne and Carrier air conditioners are highly rated in terms of product quality and service in the HVAC industry, as of 2015. Both companies use R410A refrigerant in their air conditioners, which has a minimal impact on the environment as compared to other refrigerants. However, Payne offers only three central air conditioners with SEER ratings of 13, 16 and 17. The 17 SEER rating unit from Payne, which provides cooling in two stages and better dehumidification, has the highest energy efficiency. In comparison, Carrier has a wider range of central and duct-free units. Its Infinity series, which is the most efficient and quiet, has a SEER rating of 21. The Performance and Comfort units from Carrier have SEER ratings between 15 and 18. The cost of a Payne air conditioner, with installation included, ranges between $1,200 and $6,500.

Carrier units are slightly more expensive to buy and install, with the total cost ranging between $2,000 and $8,000, depending on the model. What does a Payne furnace do? A Payne furnace provides heat to a home by circulating warm air through ductwork. Payne sells a range of high-efficiency gas furnaces with a variety of fea... Are window air conditioners expensive to run? In terms of energy efficiency rating (EER), window-unit air conditioners are slightly less efficient than central air. Window units that are certified Ener... Is the cost higher for operating central air or a window air conditioner? The cost of operating central air versus window air conditioners is dependent upon the amount of space that needs to be cooled. In small spaces, cooling wi... What are the best brands of air conditioners? The best brands of air conditioners are Hitachi, LG, Carrier and Samsung, according to a 2013 review by Before Its News. Listcrux affirms the dominance and...