Buying Guide for Domestic Electrical Appliances

Buying Guide for Air Conditioner

1. Common Size / Rating
   • Rating: about 730W to 3,150W
   • Cooling Capacity: about 7,030 to 25,000 Btu/hr.
     
     
     
     
     
     
2. Selection of Air Conditioner
   • To decide which category (window-type or split type) or any special feature you would like to have.
   • Choose a suitable cooling capacity for your room:

     Area To Be Cooled (m2)	Capacity Needed (Btu per hour)
     Below 7	6,000
     7 - 8	7,000
     8 - 10	9,000
     10 - 15	12,000
     15 - 20	18,000
     20 - 25	22,000

     Unnecessarily large cooling capacity wastes energy.
     Cooling effect can be affected by many factors, e.g. window size, head room of your flat, degree of exposure to sunlight, number of people, heat generated by other equipment, etc. You may need to consult an air conditioning expert if required.
   • The figure Energy Efficiency Rating (EER) is another useful figure for comparison. It is defined as:
     
     

     EER =

     Cooling Capacity (Btu/hr) Power Consumption (watt)

     
     Usual range for EER varies between 8 and 11.5. An air conditioner that has a higher EER means that it is more energy efficient.
   • The Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme for air conditioner adopts the "Grading Type" Energy Label. A Grade-1 air conditioner can consume up to 15% less power in comparison with a Grade-3 air conditioner. Try to choose an air conditioner with an energy label to save energy.
   • Select a lower noise level (db) machine.
   • Some air conditioners can provide heating or dehumidifying function.
   • For other energy efficient tips and safety precautions, please refer to our website "Efficient Use of Electricity|Efficient Use of Electricity" and "Safety Tips on Using Electricity|Safety Tips on Using Electricity" respectively.