Room Air Conditioners
For PartnersWhy ENERGY STAR?
When the weather heats up, a new ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner can help you keep your cool and save energy! In fact, ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners use approximately 20 percent less energy depending on the product class and, on average, cost about $60 per year to run.
Most ENERG STAR certified room air conditioners include variable speed technology that saves even more energy and quietly keeps you cool, giving you innovation and energy savings in a state-of-the-art room AC.
ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners come with better materials and clearer instructions to improve sealing and insulation around the unit, so costly and uncomfortable air leaks are minimized. Many models offer connected functionality and are also 'smart-grid ready', potentially allowing you to take advantage of special energy bill savings programs some local utilities offer.
If all room air conditioners sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, the cost savings would grow to more than $1 billion each year, preventing more than 5.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually – equivalent to the emissions from over 1.2 million vehicles.
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Our partners sponsor rebates on certified products.
What else should I look for when buying a room air conditioner?
ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners come in different sizes and styles, and include a variety of features so you can find the model that's the best fit for your home. Remember that bigger is not always better! Make sure your unit is properly sized. An oversized air conditioner costs more to purchase, wastes energy and does not provide better cooling.
Room Air Conditioners with Variable Speed Technology
Look for a room air conditioner with variable speed compressor technology for better efficiency and additional benefits. In a conventional room air conditioner, the compressor works like an on/off switch. It is either "on" at maximum capacity when the thermostat calls for cooling or "off" when the desired temperature has been achieved, and alternating between on and off periodically to maintain temperature. The much more efficient options are room air conditioners with efficient variable speed compressors, which can vary the speed of the internal compressor motor to continuously control the temperature. As a result, the capability for efficient variable output allows a room air conditioner to quietly cool the room and save a significant amount of energy.
U-Shaped and Saddle-Style Window Units
Some ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners have a U-shaped or saddle design that brackets the window or windowsill rather than sitting on top of it. This novel design feature for room air conditioners allows you to fully open and close the window where the unit sits. In most cases, the control panel and vent are situated inside the room, while the noise-producing compressor is located outside the room. These U-shaped and saddle-style units provide greater noise reduction, an unobstructed window view, and the ability to freely open and close the window.
Smart and Connected Functionality
Most U-shaped room air conditioners and many other ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner models are smart and feature connected functionality. Connected functionality offers additional convenience, comfort and energy-savings, including the ability to:
- Turn on or off the unit remotely using your phone or computer.
- Schedule changes to temperature settings based on your needs.
- Receive feedback on the energy use of the product.
These connected products are also 'smart-grid ready', potentially allowing you to take advantage of special energy bill savings programs some local utilities offer.
ENERGY STAR Most Efficient
Products that are recognized as ENERGY STAR Most Efficient deliver cutting edge energy efficiency along with the latest in technological innovation. They represent the very best for energy savings and environmental protection. Most Efficient room air conditioner models are low noise. Find Most Efficient room air conditioners here.
Properly Sized Room Air Conditioners
Room air conditioner sizing is all about matching the room size to the air conditioner size. A unit that is too big will be less effective and offer reduced air conditioner efficiency. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room before it has a chance to remove the humidity. This can lead to discomfort because cool, moist air will make the room feel damp and clammy.
The most energy efficient air conditioner is sized to the square footage of the space to be cooled. Getting the right size means getting the comfort and the energy efficiency right.
1. Determine the room's square footage
Determining the floor square footage of the area to be cooled takes simple math. Just use the following formulas.
Always measure in feet, converting the inches to fractions of a foot
For example: 12 ft., 6 inches, is 12.5 ft.
- 9 in = .75 ft.
- 6 in = .5 ft.
- 3 in = .25 ft.
Square and rectangular rooms:
Triangular rooms:
Complex room shapes:
If the shape of your room is more complex, ask your sales associate where you plan to purchase your air conditioner to help you determine the square footage.
2. Find the correct cooling capacity for your room size
With the cooling capacity chart, find your room's square footage in the "Area To be Cooled (square feet)" column, then use the "Capacity Needed (BTUs per hour)" column to choose the correct cooling capacity for your room air conditioner. The capacities are calculated based on an 8-foot ceiling. If you have higher ceilings, you may want to select a room air conditioner with a higher CADR. Cooling capacity is shown 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. Adjust as necessary
Make any adjustments for the following circumstances:
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.
Consider selecting a room AC with a lower Global Warming Potential refrigerant. Room air conditioners use refrigerants. Refrigerants with lower global warming potential (GWP) for room air conditions include R-32 (HFC-32), R-454B, and R-290. Selecting an ENERGY STAR certified model with a lower GWP refrigerant means your product will have a much lower impact on the climate if the refrigerant is released into the environment. The GWP compares the warming power of a substance to an equivalent amount of CO2 (GWP = 1 for CO2). Some refrigerants are hydrofluorocarbon (HFC), which are powerful greenhouse gases with GWPs hundreds or thousands of times higher than CO2. While R-32 (HFC-32) and R-454B are HFCs, they are lower-GWP options for room air conditioners. Find room air conditioners that contain refrigerants with a lower impact on global warming here.
Be sure to look for the ENERGY STAR when shopping for a room air conditioner
Current Specification Effective Date: October 30, 2023
- Room air conditioners originally qualified for the ENERGY STAR label in October, 1996. ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioners are 10% more efficient than non-certified models.
An improperly installed room air conditioner leaks as much air as a 6-square-inch hole, increasing energy costs and making your home less comfortable. Follow these tips to get the most savings out of your room air conditioner:
- Be sure to follow the instructions and use the insulation materials included with your room air conditioner.
- Make sure the unit is level so the drainage system works effectively.
- Don’t put lamps or TVs near the A.C. thermostat, as the extra heat will cause it to run longer.
- Set the thermostat as high as is comfortable, typically 78° F. You’ll appreciate the savings.
- On humid days, set the fan speed low. Slower air movement removes more moisture.
- Use an extra fan to spread the cooled air around.
- At the end of the cooling season, if possible, remove the room A.C. unit to minimize heat loss. Or use an appropriately sized cover during winter.
