Air-conditioning is essential for comfortable living and today’s energy efficient systems are eco-friendly and cost effective.

Things to look for when buying an energy efficient air conditioner

There are a few important points you'll need to check for when looking to buy a new energy-efficient air conditioner. These features include:

A/C size

The size of the unit is very important as an oversized air conditioner leaves your room damp and clammy and an undersized one has to work overtime to maintain a set temperature, resulting in a high electrical bill. It's very important to get the right size air con for your space.

Programmable settings

Your A/C unit should be able to regulate between temperatures, allow you set or select a precise temperature and also schedule a turn off time.

Energy saving setting

This allows the automatic shut down of not just the compressor but also the fan once your room has cooled enough. Energy saving air conditioners can really help the household budget.

EER and SEER ratings

EER means "Energy Efficiency Rating”, while the SEER means “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating”. These two ratings are used as a measure of the energy efficiency of a particular unit. The higher the energy rating, the greater the efficiency of the air conditioning unit.

Energy Star certification

Yet another feature to look for is the blue Energy Star certification (star rating) on the unit. This certification proves it has met or exceeded the higher efficiency standards.

Wifi-enabled

This is a very important feature to consider when purchasing units for smart homes, or when using Alexa or Google Assistant or even a Wifi-enabled thermostat that you can adjust via smartphone.

What does Energy Saver do on air conditioner?

Energy Saver setting is a way to control energy use so as to ensure energy efficiency and energy savings. This limits or cuts off access to the power grid once your set temperature is reached. It is more or less like an economy mode.

What is the most economical air conditioner?

There are different types of air conditioners made to best suit different living room and conditions. For people living in areas that experience intense heat for the majority of the year, your best choice is a split or packaged air conditioner. Air conditioners are essential for optimising the thermal comfort level in your home.

Below are some central air conditioner types to choose from

Split system air conditioner

Split system air conditioners are usually in two pieces; the exterior compressor and an interior fan system. The split system controls and cooling outlet components go inside your house, while the noisy engine parts are placed outside where they are less of a nuisance.

Packaged air-conditioners

A packaged A/C system is relatively the least expensive and is installed as part of a dual heating system. It uses a different cooling mode which involves forcing the hot air out of a room through air ducts to reduce temperature.

Window units

These units are usually permanently installed and inserted through the wall of the building

Portable air conditioners

These look very much like dehumidifiers but are self evaporative units that require water tanks to be filled.

Inverter air conditioners

The inverter air conditioner works at different speeds, and only draws the energy they need to maintain a set temperature.

Ductless mini-split A/C units

This is divided into two parts, with one part mounted inside and the other outside - a miniature or compressed version of the split system air con.

What is the most energy efficient way to run air conditioning?

There are several different technology features to control and efficiently run an air conditioner - the most importantly are the energy saving settings. Usually they are clearly marked and "set and forget".

What size air conditioner do I need?

One of the first things you need to do is get the room size in square meters by multiplying length by width.

When you have these measurements, you will need an air conditioning that pumps out at least 1.5-kilowatts for every 10-square meters to ensure that you have the right cooling capacity for your home - handy information to know before you get a quote.

Does an Energy Saver air conditioner save money?

The Energy Saver function is a very helpful feature of air conditioners that allows for efficient energy cooling, reducing power consumption and improving energy savings. They regulate power consumption by turning off when set temperature is reached.

Are energy efficient air conditioners worth it?

There are so many cost benefits you can derive from buying an energy efficient air conditioner. Typical users say they have reduced reduced electric bills, effective space cooling, good air quality, a low sound level and are effective in regulating temperature.

Which air conditioner uses the least electricity?

An air conditioning system featuring an inverter works at different speeds and only draws the energy it requires to maintain a set temperature, after which it turns itself off. Inverter air conditioners are very energy and cost efficient and perfect for keeping a lower energy bill.