Energy Star Ratings on Air Conditioners
Keeping your home cool and comfortable in hot weather can use a lot of energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, about half of the average home energy bill goes to heating and cooling the house. There are ways to reduce your consumption and pay less, however. Choosing Energy Star-qualified air conditioners can help you reduce cooling costs by up to 30 percent. Does this Spark an idea?
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Qualification
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Energy Star-qualified appliances meet guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Air conditioners with an Energy Star label have to save energy no matter where they are used in the country, and must be priced reasonably so that homeowners can recoup the cost of their investment from the energy saved.
Room Air Conditioners
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Small air conditioners intended to cool a single room must use at least 10 percent less energy than conventional models. According to the Department of Energy, choosing an Energy Star-qualified unit is likely to save you $60 to $75 over the course of the unit's lifetime. These models often have extra features, such as timers, which allow you to more closely control the amount of energy you use to cool your home. Efficient room air conditioners don't qualify for an Energy Star tax credit as of 2011.
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Central Air Conditioners
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Whole-house air conditioners operate under Energy Star specifications that are different from those of room models. The average Energy Star central air unit is around 14 percent more efficient than a conventional model. Central air conditioners can only maintain this efficiency when attached to an energy-efficient furnace blower. The Department of Energy recommends replacing your heating system when you install a new central air unit, to ensure your air conditioner is operating at the advertised efficiency. If you installed a new air conditioner with an Energy Star rating in 2009 or 2010, you could receive a tax credit for up to 30 percent of the cost, or up to $1,500.
Portable Air Conditioners
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Not all air conditioners can receive an Energy Star rating. For instance, portable air conditioners, which can be moved from room to room and often vent through a window, do not currently qualify as Energy Star products. While it is possible for these air conditioners to be relatively energy efficient, current federal regulations include no standard for portable models.
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References
- Photo Credit window air conditioner image by Aaron Kohr from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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I bought a window air conditioner, but didn't think to check the maximum width of the window. The max. width (across the front) of the window for the A/C is 36"....my window is 47. Thus, the accordians won't cover all the space. Besides putting pieces of wood in the open areas, is there anything else I can do? I tried to find a wider accordian frame online but couldn't find one.
