Air Conditioning Facts
The British thermal unit (BTU or Btu) measures the cooling capacity of air conditioners — the higher the BTU, the stronger the air conditioner. Room air conditioners range from 5,000 BTU per hour and up.
The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) measures the air conditioner’s energy efficiency — the higher the EER, the more efficient the air conditioner. To qualify for Hawaii Energy rebates, room air conditioners must have an EER of 10.8 and above.
The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is used to rate central air conditioners or large split systems. Look for an SEER of 13 or more.
Plugging in your AC
Smaller room air conditioners (using less than 7.5 amps of electricity) can be plugged into an 115-volt household circuit that is not shared with any other major appliances. Larger room air conditioners need dedicated 115-volt circuits. The largest models require dedicated 230-volt circuits.
Help your AC’s energy efficiency
Shade your AC so it uses less energy. Install it in a shady spot on the north side of your home and/or in the shade of trees of bushes. Trees and bushes help to block out direct sunlight, which can up to 10% of the unit’s energy efficiency.
Keep other appliances away from your AC. AC thermostats sense heat from lights, TVs and other equipment causing the air conditioner to run longer than needed.
Use a fan to spread the cold air, so your AC doesn’t have to work as hard to keep the temperature cool.
78° removes humidity. Setting your AC to 78° is enough to keep the humidity out of the air. Try that temperature for more energy savings.
Clean AC filters and vents regularly. Replace worn-out filters.
Shut the door and close the windows when the air conditioner is running to keep the cold air in.