How To Choose an Energy-Efficient AC for Your Home in 5 Steps

The rising heat of summer calls for air conditioning to keep you and your family comfortable as temperatures climb. Nothing feels more refreshing than coming in from the sweltering outdoors to a nice, cool, welcoming home. 

However, to keep your energy costs from climbing as well, you need a cost-effective and energy-efficient AC solution. Read on as the team at Premier Systems, Bozeman, MT’s specialists in installation, maintenance, and air conditioning repair, explain how to choose an energy-efficient AC system to keep your home at an ideal temperature.

AC Doesn't Have To Be Expensive

Did you know that heating and cooling account for nearly half of the energy used in most homes? In fact, the demand for electricity for air conditioning makes up about 20% of the total energy use of buildings worldwide. Whether you're looking to replace or upgrade your air conditioner or you’re installing one for the first time, you have several energy-efficient AC options.   

As a homeowner, you don't want AC to send your electric bill into the stratosphere. That's why an energy-efficient air conditioner is a must-have. 

5 Steps To Choosing an Energy-Efficient AC System

An air conditioner is a big purchase, so you want to ensure that you choose the right one. Below, we address five of the most common questions our customers consider when shopping for a new AC system.

1. Is Your Air Conditioner the Right Size for Your Living Space?

When it comes to air conditioners, size matters. Choosing the correct size of AC unit for your space is vital for keeping your energy usage and costs down. 

The right size of air conditioner ensures that your home will stay comfortable without wasting energy. Air conditioners function in two ways: They lower the temperature and reduce humidity in your home.

A too-large AC unit may cool your home faster, but it cools it too quickly to remove the moisture, so your indoor air will be damp and sticky. An AC unit that is too small for the space will cool your home, but at a cost. Because a smaller system has to work harder to keep your space at the desired temperature, it increases both your energy demand and, in turn, your electric bill. 

Choosing the right size of air conditioner for your home isn't difficult. Some government websites (like ENERGY STAR®) provide you with a handy chart that tells you the optimal AC unit size for your specific space. Once you know the square footage of the area you're trying to cool, using a BTU chart makes choosing the necessary size incredibly easy. 

2. What Is the Cooling Capacity of Your Air Conditioner?

Air conditioners determine energy efficiency using BTUs. BTUs measure your AC system's capacity for cooling. Put simply, the energy from BTUs removes heat from an area, so the higher the number of BTUs, the better it is at cooling a large space. Smaller spaces need a unit with fewer BTUs. 

The other aspect of cooling capacity is the "tonnage" of your air conditioner. Typically, AC units range between one- and five-ton units. This translates to an output of approximately 12,000 BTUs per hour, so the tonnage of your unit is a vital factor in its ability to adequately cool your living space. 

3. Should I Get a "Smart" Air Conditioner?

The short answer is yes, a smart or wi-fi-enabled air conditioner makes keeping your house cool a breeze. Installing a thermostat controlled by your phone makes it easy to adjust your home's temperature from anywhere. Because smart units are so customizable, they increase your ability to conserve energy and keep energy consumption costs down by putting all of the controls right at your fingertips. Smart AC units even provide feedback regarding your energy efficiency and usage. 

The availability of smart air conditioners extends to several types of units, from portable to window to central air conditioners.

4. What Is the AC Unit's SEER Rating? 

SEER ratings measure an AC unit's energy efficiency using BTUs, the rate that air conditioners cool the selected area. When choosing an AC unit, look for a high SEER rating, which translates to greater energy efficiency. 

Another way to determine the energy efficiency of your AC unit is by reading its EnergyGuide label. As required by the Energy Labeling Rule, you’ll find much information available in a small space, saving you the time and effort of researching and comparing AC units. The EnergyGuide label includes:

• Air conditioner type and important features
• Make, model and size
• Average estimated yearly energy cost 
• Range of costs of similar units for comparison
• Energy efficiency ratio (EER)
• ENERGY STAR® certification 

The EnergyGuide label gives you a quick overview of the AC unit, making it easier and more convenient to choose the right one.

Is My AC Unit ENERGY STAR®-Certified? 

When shopping for the most energy-efficient air conditioner, look for units with an ENERGY STAR® label. If an air conditioner is ENERGY STAR®-certified, the specific AC unit either met or exceeded strict federal energy efficiency criteria and therefore uses less energy than other units. 

If energy efficiency is high on your list of air conditioner features, ENERGY STAR® certification is a must-have.

Air Conditioning Services at Premier Systems

Using your AC system correctly is as important as choosing the air conditioner itself. To maximize the energy-efficiency of your air conditioner and extend the life of the unit, follow these three tips:

• Since appliances and lights in your house generate heat, turning off anything not in use saves your AC from unnecessary extra cooling. 
• Programming your smart air conditioner to raise the temperature by a couple of degrees when the house is empty also reduces the use of extra energy. 
• Ceiling fans help the cool air circulate using minimal energy.



When shopping for a new energy-efficient AC unit in Bozeman, MT, let our experts at Premier Systems help. Our qualified team of technicians is ready to serve you whether you have a bad AC compressor, need maintenance, or want a completely new system. Contact us today to let us put our expertise to work.