Cooling & Air Conditioning
"Cooling" and "air conditioning" are often used interchangeably when referring to the systems that keep interior temperatures more comfortable in hot weather. Technically, "air conditioning" is the more accurate term because as air is cooled, it also loses some of its moisture. Cooling + dehumidification = air conditioning.
No matter what term you use, it takes energy and money to maintain comfortable interior temperatures during hot weather. That's why it's helpful to learn a few basics about how different air conditioning systems work.
Types of air conditioners
Central air conditioning systems provide conditioned air to entire houses. A ductwork system distributes the conditioned air, and also draws warmer air back to the cooling evaporator coil to be reconditioned. In many houses, a heat pump HVAC system provides both air conditioning and heating.
Ductless "mini-split" heat pumps can provide whole-house air conditioning just like central AC systems, but they do so without ductwork. Instead, compact air handler units are mounted on walls and ceilings to deliver conditioned air to different rooms.
Portable air conditioners are designed to cool and dehumidify the air in a single room. These small, box-shaped AC units mount in window or wall openings. Another type of portable air conditioner is designed to operate as freestanding unit positioned next to a window.
Evaporative "swamp" coolers are available as portable freestanding units and as central air conditioning systems. Also known as evaporative coolers or evaporative air conditioning systems, this type of air conditioning is not as common as other types that utilize heat pump technology.
Sizing and rating air conditioners
Portable air conditioners are sized according to their BTU rating. A BTU, or British Thermal Unit, is a unit of energy about equal to the energy produced by a single match. Generally speaking, portable air conditioners will have a cooling capacity between 5,000 and 10,000 BTU.
Central air conditioning systems utilize a different sizing convention called the "ton." A "ton" of cooling capacity equals the amount of heat absorbed by one ton of ice melting over a 24-hour period. One ton of cooling capacity is equal to 12,000 BTU. Common household air conditioning systems may be from 1.5 to 5 tons, and you may have multiple units.
While BTUs and tons describe cooling capacity, EER and SEER ratings are used to describe an air conditioner's efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) denotes the efficiency of a cooling system when the outdoor temperature is at a specific level (usually 95degrees F). Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is used to measure the efficiency of a cooling system over an entire cooling season. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit.
These days, air condition systems with a SEER of 16 or more are considered very good. 21 SEER systems are about the highest you can get these says. An air conditioning unit that is 12 years old or more, may only be 10 SEER or less. This means you can cut the amount of electricity you use for air conditioning in half just by making this upgrade alone! When you combine an air conditioning upgrade with other measures to save energy such as air sealing the house, adding insulation, sealing and insulation ducts, and a radiant barrier in your attic; you are saving big and making your home more comfortable! Dr. Energy Saver can accomplish this in your home!
Both portable and central air conditioning units should have EER and SEER ratings. SEER ratings will always be slightly higher than EER ratings. More efficient air conditioners are also likely to have an ENERGY STAR® rating, which means that they are at least 10% more efficient than the minimum standard established by the federal government.
Upgrading to super-efficient HVAC equipment can cut heating and cooling costs by 30%-50%.
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