Programmable comfort is another convenient, energy-saving feature of electronic controls.
Some air conditioners even have remote controls. Other things being equal, an air conditioner with an EER of 10, for example, costs some 20 percent less to run than one with an EER of 8. Using less energy can also help prevent summertime brownouts caused by excessive power demands and help reduce pollution from power generation. What's more, you don't necessarily have to pay extra to get an energy-efficient air conditioner. Two models judged to be CR Best Buys are among the more efficient models we tested, with an EER of 10.0.