Despite the fact that we all possess different tastes as to what the “ideal” temperature is, there’s one thing that can be certain: we all love air conditioners. They make the most humid of days tolerable. They are a breath of (somewhat) fresh air. Most importantly, they disguise what is really happening in our world from us by giving us a nice, 60º room to enjoy.
1. What is the source of your heating problem? If the source of the heat is internal heat gain from the outside air (which it often is), then it might be wise to tweak the insulation, as even if you were to install A/C, the effect would be negated by air seeping in. Other times, solar gain is to blame, as waves will come in through windows and become trapped (which we all known as the greenhouse effect.) Still, some have not yet learned to reduce heat coming from an incandescent lightbulb. Before buying an air conditioner, you should first be able to identify the source of the excessive heat and see if there are alternative measures that can be taken.
2. Ask yourself: will a fan do? Sometimes an air conditioner is what is needed to achieve your desired level of cold. If you are in an incredibly hot region where the temperatures soar above 90º on a regular basis, chances are that a fan probably won’t suffice. However, why spend all of that extra money on A/C when a fan would do the same exact job for a fraction of the cost? In cases where insulation has been found to be poor or there are other inefficiency factors, you might be wise to re-evaluate whether an air conditioner is absolutely necessary. After all, what’s the point in spending extra money on A/C when something much cheaper will do just fine?
3. What is your financial situation like? Of course, there is no threshold as to how much money one must make in order to afford an air conditioner. But air conditioners are expensive, coming in at about $375 per year, according to Good Housekeeping. If staying cool is a priority and you have the cash to splash, then that's great! Just make sure you have the financial resources to pay the bills.
4. When are people going to be using the A/C? If your home is going to be vacant throughout most of the day, you might be best off turning the A/C off while away. After all, common sense tells us that, with air conditioning, the cooler the air is, the more energy will be needed to maintain that temperature. By leaving your home’s temperature a bit higher during the day, you will lower your environmental impact and energy bills.
5. Buy energy efficient units! According to ENERGY STAR, if everyone who bought air conditioners bought units that were ENERGY STAR certified, we would prevent over 900 million pounds in greenhouse gas emissions per year. That is the equivalent of 80,000 cars’ annual fuel emissions. ENERGY STAR units can save you about $60 over the lifetime of the unit, and can also come with timers which can curb the conundrum of using too much energy to cool the room (mentioned in point #3). Additionally, there are several tax credits that you can qualify for by buying energy-efficient units. If you’re going to install an A/C unit, you may as purchase an energy efficient one — it can give you tax credits and lower your energy costs long-term.
6. Make sure you choose the right size! If the room you’re looking to cool is 10x10, don’t buy a unit built to cool a room that is 40x40! You can find a list of specifications regarding what size is right for you on the ENERGY STAR website. Additionally, this website provides a great list of other considerations to be taken into account, such as how sun and shade can stunt the amount of energy needed to run an air conditioner. It is very easy to impulsively buy an A/C unit, but you’ll thank yourself in the long run if you do some research and figure out what size and specifications are best suited to your needs.
This wasn’t written to scare you away from buying an air conditioner. After all, many people have valid needs for A/C, whether a central (CAC) unit or individual units. However, instead of simply buying a unit on impulse, ask yourself these few questions. There’s a good chance that you can either lower your energy intake or find an alternative solution, saving you money and reducing your greenhouse gas emissions.
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