With room air conditioners, the first thing you want to consider is the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). The higher the EER, the less you’ll have to spend on your utility bills in the summer time. Because Seattle isn’t so hot that you have to use your AC all summer long, an AC with an ENERGY STAR rating should have a high enough EER to get you through the hottest weeks without raising your utility bills too much.

Since you’ll be paying to cool the air in your home, you’ll want to make sure it doesn’t leak out of your home, so another thing to consider is how efficient your house is overall. Improving your home’s overall efficiency through measures like air sealing and added insulation will be beneficial for both cooling and heating your home.

If you’re not sure where or how much insulation or air sealing your home needs, you should contact an energy auditor in the Seattle area to analyze your home. They’ll help you seal up your home and make suggestions about what other cost-effective upgrade you can make.

Updated July 16, 2010