Guide to Air Conditioners

Air conditioners and the green factor

Energy efficiency is the driving force behind innovation in today's air conditioners, which are becoming ever greener. Replacing older air conditioner models offers immediate cost and energy benefits. As ozone-harming hydrochlorofluorocarbons are phased out (completely by 2030) and replaced by hydrofluorocarbons and other coolants or technologies, the march toward energy efficiency will accelerate. Always look for the Energy Star label.

I recommend: Review and compare Energy Star air conditioners at Yahoo! Shopping. Also see Energy Star’s square footage chart on its Properly Sized Air Conditioners page. Buying the right air conditioner for your room size is the key to cost and energy efficiency. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer’s worksheet will help you determine how powerful an air conditioner you need. MSN shopping allows you to search portable, wall and window air conditioners by brand and price, comparing the prices of six sellers. To cool a single room Compact Alliance offers the Edgestar Portable Air Cooler with Ionic Air Purifier for $99, an eco-friendly tower unit that uses no Freon, no CFCs and uses less energy than most light bulbs.

Central air conditioning

Central air conditioning systems can be either split systems where the condenser and compressor are located in an outdoor unit while the evaporator is mounted in the air handling unit (often a forced air furnace) or a package unit in which all components are located in a single outdoor unit. HVAC refers to a complete heating, air conditioning, and ventilation system.

I recommend: CalFinders sources central air conditioning contractors and gets comparative quotes. Sears HomePro allows you to schedule an appointment online for a central air conditioning consultation.  If your home or office doesn’t have a duct system, a ductless air conditioner may be your answer. Smarterway offers a variety of options as does AJ Madison.

Evaporation (swamp) coolers for air conditioning

Although not technically considered air conditioners, evaporation or swamp coolers can be an efficient dry-climate solution. They work by pulling fresh outside air through moist pads where the air is cooled by evaporation.

I recommend: MSC Direct allows you to compare evaporative coolers, which you may want to use if traditional air conditioning isn’t a possibility.

Portable air conditioners

Portable air conditioner units, which can be stowed away when not needed, have gained some popularity over window and wall units and are often more energy efficient.

I recommend: Check Compact Appliance’s Portable Cooler page. To get the biggest bang for your buck consider a multifunction portable air conditioner, which can incorporate coolers, heaters, air purifiers and humidifiers. Visit Portable Air Shop for a variety of multifunction units.

Industrial and institutional air conditioning

From manufacturing plants to office buildings to institutional buildings like hospitals and schools, large spaces all require substantial air conditioning systems.

I recommend: ThomasNet, a B2B site that connects buyers and sellers of industrial equipment, has an air conditioner page that features emergency and temporary air conditioners as well as large-scale industrial air conditioning units. Global Industrial supplies industrial-grade air conditioners. Topp Portable Air offers sales and rentals of portable units for commercial, industrial and special event applications from 12 regional locations.