Air Conditioning, Room for Consumers

Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. By choosing ENERGY STAR qualified heating and cooling equipment and taking steps to optimize its performance, you can enhance the comfort of your home while saving energy. Saving energy helps you save money on utility bills and protect the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the fight against climate change.

ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners:

• use about 10% less energy than conventional models, which could mean a savings of about $50 over the lifetime of the unit, on average.
• often include timers for better temperature control, allowing you to use the minimum amount of energy you need to cool your room.

• Room air conditioners originally qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in October, 1996. ENERGY STAR qualified room air conditioners are 10% more efficient than non-qualified models.

Room Air Conditioners Key Product Criteria : ENERGY STAR

Learn How a Product Earns the Label

What else should I look for when buying a room air conditioner?

Remember that bigger is not always better! Buying an air conditioner that is too large does not provide better cooling. An oversized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time. Make sure your unit is properly sized.

Properly Sized Room Air Conditioners

Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provide better cooling. However, an oversized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.

To figure out which size unit is best for your cooling needs:

1. Determine the square footage of the area to be cooled using the following formulas:
   • For square and rectangular rooms, multiply the length of the area by its width
   • For a triangular area, multiply the length of the area by the width and divide by 2
   Most rooms can be further divided into these basic shapes to determine the square footage.
   
   If the shape of your room is other than square or rectangular, ask your sales associate to help you determine the square footage.
2. Using the square footage and the chart below, determine the correct cooling capacity. Cooling capacity is measured in British thermal units (BTUs) per hour.

Area To Be Cooled (square feet)	Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour)
100 up to 150	5,000
150 up to 250	6,000
250 up to 300	7,000
300 up to 350	8,000
350 up to 400	9,000
400 up to 450	10,000
450 up to 550	12,000
550 up to 700	14,000
700 up to 1,000	18,000
1,000 up to 1,200	21,000
1,200 up to 1,400	23,000
1,400 up to 1,500	24,000
1,500 up to 2,000	30,000
2,000 up to 2,500	34,000

3. Make any adjustments for the following circumstances:
   • If the room is heavily shaded, reduce capacity by 10 percent.
   • If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10 percent.
   • If more than two people regularly occupy the room, add 600 BTUs for each additional person.
   • If the unit is used in a kitchen, increase capacity by 4,000 BTUs.
   • Consider where you install the unit. If you are mounting an air conditioner near the corner of a room, look for a unit that can send the airflow in the right direction.

These are the top FAQs related to Air Conditioning, Room and the ENERGY STAR program.