With rising energy costs and social pressures to ‘go green’ the norm these days, you can optimize the energy efficiency of a smart air conditioner by using its app. Keeping your home at an even comfort level while reducing the machine’s power output is easy, even when you’re nowhere near home!
Here are some of the best smart air conditioners available today.
Q: What’s the Difference Between DOE, SACC, and ASHRAE?
ASHRAE is the older system of BTU rating that window and wall air conditioners use. SACC is a newer system created in 2017 by the Department of Energy (DOE).
Using the LG ThinQ app, you can turn the appliance on or off from anywhere, adjust its mode to comply with weather conditions, control the temperature to ensure it’s cool on your return home, set a schedule, or even get an estimation of power use. For in-house voice commands, you can also use Alexa and Google Assistant.
The unit’s output is 9,500 BTU, which can cover a medium-sized room up to 450 feet. It is also available with 14, 18, and 22,000 BTU outputs that handle areas of 800, 1,000, and 1,300 square feet, respectively.
It is also excellent in terms of energy efficiency. Thanks to the dual inverter compressors, it uses 26.6 percent less energy than the U.S. federal standard requirement. It is Energy Star certified with a CEER of 13.8 and makes the Energy Star Most Efficient list for 2022. Controlling the unit remotely only adds to the bucks you can save while also doing your bit for the environment.
Additionally, the dual inverters ensure the unit runs quietly. In Sleep Mode, it cools at a tranquil 44 decibels, guaranteeing you a night of sound rest if the appliance is in your bedroom or an undisturbed office if you are using a larger unit at your place of business.
The app can be a little cumbersome at first, but after a bit of perseverance, you should be able to control the unit freely from anywhere. It is also compatible with the Smart Life app should you wish to try that instead.
The rewards you get for your patience regarding possible app difficulties are excellent. This unit has several outstanding pluses going for it. First is its U-shaped design that blocks the outside compressor noise while still allowing easy opening and closing of the window.
Next is its energy-efficiency rating. It boasts an impressive CEER of 15 and uses more than 37 percent less energy than the U.S. federal requirement. Add a running noise of just 42 decibels at its lowest operational mode, and you have three great reasons for choosing this appliance.
This air conditioner is an 8,000 BTU unit that is also available with 10 and 12,000 BTU outputs. It cools rooms in sizes of 350, 450, and 550 feet, respectively.
You can turn the appliance on when traveling home and even adjust its temperature. You can even see the temperature of your room from the app, giving you increased confidence in your choice of degrees. Doing this prevents the need to crank the airflow and thermostat when you get home, thus saving that little extra on your bills. The SmartHQ app may not have as many features as more premium-priced units, but it does what you need.
It is an 8,000 BTU unit and is also available with 10,000 BTU. It is Energy Star certified and has a decent CEER of 11.4, meaning it does its best to save on your energy bills.
At 62 decibels, it definitely doesn’t perform as quietly as more expensive machines. However, it is still relatively hushed, and all but the lightest of sleepers should still be able to drift off easily if the unit is in a bedroom.
It is a relatively energy-efficient appliance, with its Energy Star certification and a CEER of 12. It’s pretty good, but if energy saving is vital to you, there are better options at more premium prices.
As smart window AC units go, this one is around the mid-range price mark, and its 52-decibel noise level reflects this. Don’t think you won’t get any sleep because of an incessant operation noise; it’s still pretty quiet, but complete serenity comes at a higher price. However, when it’s in Sleep Mode, the unit isn’t loud when it automatically turns on.
Unlike many other AC units, it kick-starts with minimum fuss before slowly rising to its operating level, making it a good choice for the bedroom.
This 14,000 BTU (ASHRAE) mobile unit equates to 10,000 BTU (SACC). It is also available with different outputs. However, like other portable ACs, it is not Energy Star certified, and its CEER is undisclosed. Therefore, before buying, you should consider whether saving on your bills or portability is more important.
The excellent LG ThinQ App works like other LG air conditioners. You can do everything remotely and use voice commands with virtual assistants. This unit also has a model with a Heat Mode option. Turning on the heat and monitoring it in a child’s room while you work late ensures that your little one will be nice and cozy in your absence.
Additionally, setting the unit to come on an hour or so before you wake up can help with those chilly mornings when you just don’t want to get out of bed.
What’s more, the 52-decibels noise level is unlikely to wake you up before your alarm does. However, please note that the heat option is only available on the largest unit.
The SmartHQ app works well and is easy to use. You can set up a schedule, control temperature, and check power consumption, among other features. These features are great for optimizing power efficiency while attaining the perfect comfort level.
As with most smart air conditioners, you can also set up voice control with your preferred virtual assistant. This convenience enables you to ask Alexa to turn on the AC or make adjustments when you don’t have your smartphone on hand.
It has an impressive 15.7 CEER and a highly-impressive 44 percent less energy use than the U.S. federal standard. You should be aware, however, that you might see smaller and more economically-priced GE Profile units marketed alongside the better and bigger inverter units. They are the GE Profile Ultra-Quiet Air Conditioners, but they operate at noisier levels of up to 63 decibels and have average energy efficiency.
The Midea app is easy to set up and use. It features various functions for you to control remotely, including a choice of modes. You can set it to Cool Mode, Fan Mode, or Dehumidify Mode. Dehumidifying when the weather changes to wet is a great option to ensure you can optimize the comfort level for your return home. You can even set it back to Cool Mode if the sun comes back out and the heat kicks back in.
However, energy efficiency is not a strong point of portable AC units. They are not usually Energy Star certified, and this one is no different. Choosing portability or energy efficiency is an important choice for any purchaser to consider.
If portability is your preferred option, you can easily install this unit to almost any window in the house with the 5-foot hose. The window bracket easily fits most windows from 26.5 to 48 inches. Additionally, with a decibel output of 54, it is pretty quiet for a mobile unit and is peaceful enough for bedroom use.
SACC (often referred to as DOE) is used with portable AC units because they are not as efficient as other types. The heat created by the mobile unit does not get completely expelled, which affects the machine’s cooling ability. So, SACC will always be lower than ASHRAE; how much depends on how effective the mobile AC’s exhaust system is.
Q: Is a Smart Air Conditioner Worth It?
They absolutely are, yes. A smart air conditioner gives you complete control over your appliance no matter where you are. This convenience is also energy-saving. Gone are the days when you had to resign yourself to the fact that you forgot to turn off the AC in your rush to get to work while it burned through power the whole day.
You can also set your home units to come on and cool your home down gently rather than having to blast the cold air on your return to a hot baking house at the height of summer.
Monitoring energy consumption and setting modes relative to the day’s weather conditions are other useful things you can easily do remotely.
