Three Steps to Buying the Right Air Conditioner

In ancient times, the Greeks and Romans called the four or so weeks at the peak of summer the “dog days”—the time when Sirius, the dog star, rises just before the sun. In those days, hot, sluggish, steamy weather often led to sickness, famine or other catastrophes.

Luckily, 3,000 years later, we have ENERGY STAR^® certified room air conditioners to help us stay cool indoors and efficiently ward off the heat and humidity. What’s more, they use 10% less energy than non-certified models, cost less than $75 per year to run on average and provide materials for a better, more insulated seal to keep that cool air inside.

But of all the high-efficiency models, how do you know which unit to get? Units that are too large for the space will cool faster than they can draw out humidity, leaving the room damp and uncomfortable. Units that are too small may not cool the room effectively.

The graphic below can help you choose the right room air conditioner for your space. Regardless of what size you choose, make sure it’s ENERGY STAR certified. In addition to providing guaranteed cooling performance and energy efficiency, certified models also qualify for a $40 rebate from the Sponsors of Mass Save^®.

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