Living in South Bend, Indiana, the heating system is the priority.
We can get by without centralized air conditioning. The summer temperature rarely climbs above the low eighties and the nights are typically quite cool. Rather than spend the money on a whole-home system, I’ve invested into window air conditioners for each bedroom. I was able to purchase energy efficient, quiet and powerful cooling units at the local home improvement store for around two hundred dollars each. Installing them into the window in the spring takes just a few minutes. I plug the unit in and it’s ready to operate. Having window air conditioners allows each family member to adjust the temperature in their bedroom to their liking. Plus, we only run the cooling units at night. They use very little energy. One of the nicest features of the compact air conditioners is the cordless remote. We can adjust the temperature, fan speed and even the direction of airflow without even getting out of bed. Each air conditioner also features an energy saving mode. For upkeep, the equipment requires little more than an annual cleaning. I make sure to wipe down the unit, wash the air filter and change the batteries in the remote. Although having a window air conditioner obscures the view through the window and detracts a bit from aesthetics, the system provides many benefits. By keeping the windows closed, there is far less influx of pollen, dust, exhaust fumes, insects and other air contaminants. The air conditioner makes just enough operational noise to drown out barking dogs, tweeting birds, traffic and sounds that would otherwise disrupt our sleep. I find that I sleep much better with the air conditioner running. I usually leave it in place until it’s time to start up the furnace in the fall. I then carry the window units up to the attic for storage.