Money can’t buy you sleep, but you might find yourself staring wide-eyed at the newer range of high-tech, split air conditioners. Power consumption, form factor, energy star rating, infrared sensors, air ionizers... What should you look for and how should you go about selecting one? We flip a few switches
Niyam Bhushan
Everyone knows that with the blazing Indian sun, days are definitely much hotter than the nights. Yet, almost all air conditioners, or ACs, promote the luxurious comfort they bring at night. Strange, no one is tossing and turning on the global warming effects caused by the carbon footprint of each AC gently cooling down your room with each degree.
Stars in the day
Obviously, power consumption of the unit is the most important criterion in choosing a model from at least 200 available in India. Form factor is the second.
Depending on your needs, you may choose to install an AC either as a window unit, a split AC, a floor-standing unit or a cassette on the ceiling.
We’ve limited ourselves to split ACs here but whatever form factor you choose, look for units displaying a prominent “Energy Star” rating. Shortlist only a five-star rated unit because most Indians tend to replace their ACs not before five-seven years of use. A five-star unit may more than pay for the difference over this time, compared to a four-star or lower-rated unit, not to mention the relief of reduced electricity bills. However, be careful: Not all five-star ratings are the same, so base your comparisons on the actual power consumption and the specific rating value.
Also See Some 1.5 Tonne Split ACs (PDF)
Browse your brand’s website or Web-search for an online energy calculator to estimate your power savings and bills. For instance, I’ve calculated that my eight hours of sleep with my 1.5 tonne split AC on costs me approximately Rs50-60 per night. Compared to other shortlisted models, the electricity saved can power one ceiling fan and two compact fluorescent lamp, or CFL, bulbs in my room. The reduced load also saves me from potential problems caused in other fixtures, devices and even the wiring and fuses on the circuit. Look also for units that do not break down in extreme temperatures. Samsung claims that selected units can continue functioning for a longer time even when it’s as high as 54 degrees Celsius.
Green without envy
Each brand and model offers some smart and innovative technology to shave a few more rupees off your bill. For instance, Daikin has infrared sensors to monitor the room and effectively reduce the power consumption by a claimed 30% by controlling energy wastage. Almost all brands adjust their total running time at night while maintaining a comfortable range of temperatures.
A few brands use more exotic and insulated material to minimize energy wastage, as well as to save components from wear and tear. What impresses me the most are the models that use a gas or refrigerants less harmful to the ozone layer, even though such AC models cost a bit more. That’s what I’d pay for, fir"
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