What's new in air conditioning?

By Glenn Dunphy

Now that the hot days of summer are coming, it's a good time to consider your air conditioning options. With an eye to keeping costs down while still staying cool there are a few things you can do. First off, if you are buying a new air conditioner, make sure it has an energuide label. It will indicate the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Compare the models you are considering because buying a cheaper air conditioner with a worse EER will likely cost you in the long term. Even better, look for air conditioners with the Energy Star designation - you will know right away that the unit you are looking at is one of the most energy efficient for its size.

Speaking of size, buying the right size air conditioner for your new house or condo is important too. Figuring out the correct size for your home or room depends on many factors, and you could leave that to your air conditioning contractor or (if you are like me!) you can try to figure it out for yourself. The Office of Energy Efficiency (part of Natural Resources Canada) has a wonderful - and free - little guide called "Air Conditioning Your Home" that takes you through the very detailed calculations step by step and, despite how it looks at first glance, it is not that complicated.

After your room or central air conditioner is installed - in a shaded area if possible - you'll need to understand the maintenance requirements. Make sure to read the manual...but, really, who reads the manual! Tom McDonald, owner of MCMECH, a company that operates across the GTA and specializes in heating and air conditioning systems, says that the number one thing you can do is "replace the inside air filter [of your furnace] at least every three months, and sooner if you have pets, smoke or if there is a lot of construction in the area. If it is clean then your whole heating/cooling system is more efficient and therefore uses less energy to do the same work."

For many more ideas on how to make the best decisions regarding your air conditioning needs refer to the Office of Energy Efficiency guide mentioned above - it can be ordered by calling 1-800-387-2000.