Running an air conditioner requires a large amount of energy and is usually more expensive than other home appliances. The cost of running an air conditioner varies by season and kWh. However, it is possible to reduce the cost by using personal cooling devices.
To calculate the cost to run an air conditioner for one hour, start by calculating how many kilowatt hours the air conditioner uses. For example, a three-kilowatt AC will cost xx per hour depending on your electricity rate.
Another method of determining the cost to run an air conditioner for one hour is by entering the wattage, which is determined by the SEER rating, into a formula. This will give you the cost per hour and the monthly cost. Alternatively, you can plug in the electricity rate from your energy bill to calculate the cost of running the air conditioner.
How much electricity do portable air conditioners use?
While many portable air conditioners are energy-efficient, their energy consumption varies greatly. They range from mini-fridge-sized units to portable towers that cool an entire room. These units are rated in British thermal units (BTU), which indicate the amount of electricity they use. For example, the most energy-efficient portable air conditioner may only use about 1,800 BTU, while the most powerful will run at around 14,000 BTU.
Depending on the size of the unit, a portable AC can draw anywhere from nine to one and a half kilowatts of electricity. The exact amount you’ll need will depend on the actual power consumption of the unit, as well as how often you use it. You should keep in mind that some models can draw more power than others because of dirty filters.
If you are concerned about the size of the space you want to cool, choose a unit that’s 8,000 BTU. These units will work quickly to cool a small room. They also tend to use less electricity than window units, which can end up causing an increase in energy bills.
Besides being more affordable than central air conditioning, portable air conditioners are great for people who rent or don’t have access to central air conditioning. These devices work well in one room and will cool or heat it in two to three hours. They also use approximately one and a half kilowatts of electricity per hour.
Varying rates depending on peak and off-peak electricity rates
If you are running your AC on a weekday from 4 pm until 9 pm, your monthly utility bill will increase significantly. If you aren’t comfortable with this, you can ask your electric company if they offer any kind of time-of-day billing plans.
How to reduce the energy your aircon unit uses
Electricity is used when the air conditioning compressor continuously moves refrigerant into the evaporator coils, where it evaporates and is then pumped back into the compressor. This complex system consumes large amounts of energy because cooler air requires more power to cool.
One way to reduce the energy used by air conditioning units is to purchase highly energy-efficient units. This means that you only need to turn the air conditioner on in the rooms where you spend the most time. This could be your bedroom or home office. The rest of the rooms can function without the air conditioner. A standard air conditioning unit should have a SEER rating of at least 13 or 14, but some models can reach as high as 25.
There are newer models that use less power. An 18,000 BTU unit usually consumes around 1.71 kWh of electricity to cool 900 square foot room. In addition, modern air conditioning systems use two-stage scroll compressors instead of single-stage piston-driven compressors.
While the advertised wattage of an air conditioning unit is high, the actual running wattage is much lower. Most units cycle at different intervals of 15 minutes or less. Therefore, a five-ton or 6-ton air conditioner can consume more than 100 kWh of electricity a day.
A Word of Advice – research, research, research
Always make sure you do your research before buying any kind of aircon unit whether portable or wall monuted. You will find that there are models out there that may cost more to purchase, but are designed for energy efficiency. In the long run, an energy efficient unit will save you more money on your electric bill.