EERs and BTUs
The jargon of air conditioning efficiency
EERs and BTUs are two terms often associated with air conditioning systems. When shopping for an air conditioner, it is important to understand these terms in order to fully appreciate the features and capability of units you are considering.
Most air conditioners have their capacity graded in British Thermal Units (BTUs). A BTU is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit. A BTU is also 1,055 joules.
Usually, window air conditioners are rated at approximately 10,000 BTUs. This means that the air conditioner has the capability of cooling 10,000 pounds of water, one degree, in one hour. Basically the higher the BTU rating, the more effective the air conditioner is going to be in cooling your home. One ton in heating and cooling terms is 12,000 BTUs.
The Energy Efficient Rating (EER) of an air conditioner is its BTU rating over its wattage. If an air conditioner has a BTU rating of 10,000 and consumes 1,200 watts, its EER is going to be 8.3. The higher the EER of an air conditioning unit, the better it will perform.
When shopping for an air conditioner, ask yourself how many hours per year you expect to be operating your unit. This figure will allow you to estimate your total cost, including the total amount of energy that your air conditioning unit will use per year. Keep in mind, the higher the EER, the more the air conditioning unit will cost. If you need more help, check out our air conditioner sizing page.
If you can go into a purchase (whether that's online or in-store) and speak knowledgeably about BTUs and EERs, this will help you twofold:
- You'll be able to make a better purchase, armed with more knowledge.
- You'll be much less likely to be pushed into purchasing the wrong product by a salesman who thinks of you only as a “mark.”
Use the terms properly and learn everything that you need to know about your energy needs, and you will end up with the right air conditioner for you.
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