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Let's say that you plan to use the air conditioner in the summer (four months a year) and it will be
operating about six hours a day. Let's also imagine that the cost in your area is $0.10/kWh. The difference
in energy consumption between the two units is 200 watts, which means that every five hours the less
expensive unit will consume 1 additional kWh (and therefore $0.10 more) than the more expensive unit.
Assuming that there are 30 days in a month, you find that during the summer you're operating the air
conditioner:
The more expensive unit costs $100 more, which means that it will take about seven years for the more
expensive unit to break even.
See Climate Magic for a great explanation of seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER).
In the next section, we'll look at cutting these costs with some new, energy-efficient cooling systems.
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Sunpentown International
WA-1230E 12000 BTU
Portable Air Conditioner
Portable, 12000 BTU/hr,
12.63 EER, With Remote
Control, Reus able Filter
$339.00 - $488.00
Sunpentown International
WA-9020E 9000 BTU
Portable Air Conditioner
Portable, 9000 BTU/hr,
10.31 EER, With Remote
Control, Reus able Filter
$250.00 - $402.00
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