Room Air Conditioners

An ENERGY STAR® certified room air conditioner can help you keep cool while using 10% less energy than a non-certified model. Certified models also have improved designs that reduce air leaks, which cause additional energy waste. Because of its higher energy efficiency, an ENERGY STAR certified room air conditioner can save you more than $60 in energy costs over the unit’s lifetime.

Learn How to Receive a $40 Rebate With Your Purchase of an ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioner

• Room Air Conditioner Offer Page

For More Information on ENERGY STAR Certified Room Air Conditioners and to Find a List of Certified Models, Visit:

• ENERGY STAR website

How to Find the Right Model for Your Space

In addition to looking for an ENERGY STAR certified model, you should look for a model that is appropriately sized for your room and has a high Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER), which indicates the overall energy efficiency of the unit.

To find the model that fits your room size, follow these three steps:

1. Measure the room’s square footage.
2. Match the room size to the optimal cooling capacity, measured in BTUs/hour. A greater cooling capacity will not necessarily mean a cooler, more comfortable room. Purchasing a unit that has too high a cooling capacity for a given room size can leave your space feeling humid and damp instead.

   Room Size (Square Feet)	Optimal Cooling Capacity (BTUs/hour)
   100 up to 150	5,000
   150 up to 250	6,000
   250 up to 300	7,000
   300 up to 350	8,000
   350 up to 400	9,000
   400 up to 450	10,000
   450 up to 550	12,000
   550 up to 700	14,000
   700 up to 1,000	18,000

3. Make adjustments to the optimal cooling capacity depending on sun exposure, occupancy rate, and the room’s typical use, since these factors can affect the room’s temperature. ENERGY STAR recommends using these tips:
   • If a room does not get much sun, decrease cooling capacity by 10 percent.
   • If a room receives a lot of direct sun, increase cooling capacity by 10 percent.
   • If a room is often used by more than two people, add 600 BTUs/hour per additional person.
   • If you frequently cook in a room, increase the cooling capacity by 4,000 BTUs/hour.