AHAM Consumer Information
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Room
Air Conditioners: a hot way to keep cool and
cut energy costs
The hot, humid weather
of summer is about to meet Americans’
continuing desire to cut costs this cooling
season. Room air conditioners are a practical
way to cool down when temperatures heat up,
especially if you want to save money by only
cooling the rooms you use the most.
New
room air conditioners are significantly more
energy efficient and now offer a variety of
features, including varying fan speeds, remote
controls, timers and different types of
filters. The average room air conditioner
manufactured in 2008 also use 23 percent less
energy than units made in 1990. ENERGY STAR
units can save you even
more.
Before going to the store to
purchase a new unit, consumers should visit
www.cooloff.org
to search through a list of models that are
AHAM certified. The Association of Home
Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) tests and
certifies room air conditioners in an
independent lab to verify that the product
performs according to the manufacturers’
claims.
To get the maximum benefit from
a room air conditioner, consider two important
factors -- cooling capacity and efficiency.
Many people size air conditioners incorrectly,
purchasing an air conditioner with more cooling
capacity than needed.
More is not
necessarily better. A unit with too much
capacity may cool a room so quickly that it
won't run long enough to lower humidity. This
results in a cold, clammy feeling caused by
chilly, humid air. More importantly, you will
be wasting energy and lots of
money.
Cooloff.org also offers a
cooling
calculator for consumers to determine the
proper cooling capacity for their room.
This calculator, along with other useful
information about room air conditioners, can be
found on www.CoolOff.org. The Web site will
take you through a series of questions, before
recommending models that fit your
needs.
Once you know what size unit you
need, consider its operating efficiency. The
higher the energy efficiency ratio, or EER, the
more efficient the model. When shopping, you'll
also want to look for the "AHAM-certified"
seal. Models certified through AHAM's program
have been tested and their performance verified
by an independent laboratory, assuring
consumers that the product will perform
according to the manufacturer's product claims
for BTU's per hour, amps and
efficiency.
Once you have the perfect
air conditioner for your home size, you'll want
to keep it running smoothly. Here are some
maintenance tips from the AHAM:
* Turn
off the unit and open doors and windows during
cooler periods.
* Use the unit fan and
portable fans to draw in cooler outside air and
increase circulation.
* Use a higher
(warmer) thermostat setting during peak periods
or when the area is unoccupied. A 75 to 80
degree setting will cut power consumption by 15
percent.
* Don't let heat build up all day
and then try to cool areas quickly by turning
the controls to maximum settings.
* Draw the
shade or window blinds to reduce solar and
outdoor heat.
* Regularly change or clean
filters and check air flow for blockage or
frost on evaporator
coil.

AHAM’S
Certified Room Air Conditioner
and Dehumidifier Directories Now Searchable on
COOLOFF.ORG
The Association of Home
Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) unveils a new
consumer site http://www.cooloff.org/
featuring a simple three step process to help
consumers select a proper room air conditioner
by accurately determining cooling capacity;
using the searchable Room Air Conditioners
directory to find the units with certified
performance ratings that match their criteria;
and linking to manufacturers' web sites for
additional feature and purchase related
information.
AHAM products are certified
based on verification of product
performance. Room Air Conditioners are
certified based on their cooling capacity
expressed in BTU’s. Room Air Conditioner
Manufacturers voluntarily participate in the
AHAM certification program. AHAM uses an
independent lab and a standardized test known
as the AHAM/ANSI RAC-1, to test the actual
cooling capacity of the unit. Products that are
tested may then use an AHAM seal and be listed
in the product directory.
The website offers
consumers detailed information on proper
cooling capacity, energy efficiency,
installation requirements as well as efficiency
use and maintenance tips. The units in
the searchable directories can be sorted by the
Brand name, Manufacturer, BTU (British Thermal
Units), EER (energy efficiency ratio), or
Voltage.
AHAM encourages consumers
to “Beat the Heat” by visiting http://www.cooloff.org/
for cool information on how to select a room
air conditioner. AHAM has designed this web
site to help consumers select the right product
for their home. Since 1967, AHAM has
administered third party certification programs
to test and verify the performance ratings of
products such as room air conditioners, room
air cleaners and dehumidifiers.
Use ENERGY STAR to Save Money and
Energy!
The ENERGY STAR
program was introduced by the US EPA in 1992 as
a voluntary labeling program designed to
identify and promote energy-efficient products.
Today, ENERGY STAR has partnered with thousands
of organizations to promote energy efficient
products including 31 home appliance
manufacturers. The
ENERGY STAR
web site will help you locate thousands of
home appliances that can help you save money
and energy within your home.
Look for the
ENERGY STAR label when purchasing products for
the most energy efficient choices.