2 minute read
No-sweat guide to choosing a room air conditioner
BY MITCH ROSS
On one of the many scorching 100+ degree days we had last summer, I had the idea to order an above-ground pool for our family to get relief from the heat and enjoy together. Long story short … due to my lack of foresight (once it’s 100+ degrees — it’s preferable for the pool to be up and running, not just ordered), we received the pool and got it set up at the very end of summer. This means it didn’t provide any relief during the hottest part of the year, and we barely got to enjoy it at all. This year I am determined to be prepared before the hot weather comes, and I would recommend everyone do the same!
While a pool is fine and dandy, the real relief from the heat comes from our lovely, air-conditioned spaces. Arkansans owe Willis Carrier, inventor of the air conditioner (AC), a great deal of thanks. While we can all appreciate cooling off under the breeze of an AC system, I’ve seen a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about these wonderful devices while doing energy-efficiency education. We want to make sure you enjoy the benefits of AC in the most cost-effective way possible. Here, we’ll discuss an oft used, but not often highlighted form of AC — room air conditioners.
Room ACs, unlike their whole-home counterparts, central ACs, are designed to cool just one part of the home. Here are three main styles of room ACs and their pros and cons:
PORTABLE AC
Pros
Easiest to install.
Low upfront cost.
Cons
Extremely inefficient. Draws in outdoor air.
Noisy
Not the best at controlling humidity.
Recommendation
Only use in very short-term scenarios, such as while waiting on a central unit to be repaired.
WINDOW AC
Pros
Moderately easy to install. Low upfront cost. Some models are somewhat efficient.
Cons
Limits use of window Not the most aesthetic.
Noisy
Not the best at controlling humidity.
Recommendation
Use for somewhat temporar y scenarios, in spaces that are infrequently cooled, or when upfront cost is the most important factor.
MINI-SPLIT
Pros
Can be extremely efficient. Ver y quiet.
Excellent humidity control. A permanent solution. Can be a whole -home solution with multizone units.
Cons
High upfront cost. Difficult to self-install
Recommendation
Use as a permanent solution in a space that is frequently conditioned, as the higher upfront cost will be recovered by increased efficiency.
Director election ballots
must arrive by June 16
North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) is conducting the election for the open system-atlarge board of directors seat by mail.
Members received an envelope from Survey & Ballot Systems at their mailing address on file in late May. The Minnesota company is handling the election and tabulation of votes on behalf of NAEC.
Along with the ballot, the envelope included the 2022 Annual Report, candidate biography and a prepaid postage return envelope to mail the ballot to Survey & Ballot Systems.
Ballots cannot be given to NAEC. They must be mailed to Survey & Ballot Systems and received by June 16 to be considered valid.
Members on the nominating committee reviewed résumés of interested people and nominated Heather Knight Loftis of Mountain Home for the system-at-large position. No petitions were submitted by the April 21 deadline, so she is running unopposed. Results will be published in The Messenger and at naeci.com
The 2023 Annual Meeting will entail only a business session at the co-op’s Salem headquarters at 10 a.m. June 20. Members will be able to watch the meeting live at naeci.com; a recording also will be posted to the website following the meeting.