Inverter Air Conditioner Buying Guide: What You Need to Know About Inverter Air Conditioners
Table of contents:
- Overview
- What is an Inverter Air Conditioner (A/C), and How Does it Work?
- How much would an inverter A/C save you?
- But wait, what is EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)?
- How much is the monthly electricity bill of a Window Type Inverter A/C?
- How much savings can I make on an Inverter Split-type A/C?
- See also: AC Consumption Chart by Meralco
- Conclusion
Overview
When purchasing a new air conditioner (A/C), one of consumers’ most significant elements is energy efficiency.
Air conditioners (A/C) utilize more than 500W for long periods, significantly influencing your monthly power consumption.
That is why home appliance makers developed air conditioners with inverter technology.
While inverter air conditioners (AC) save you money on electricity, the initial investment usually starts at P10,000.
This cost is more than the usual price of non-inverter units of the same capacity.
That’s why this raises the question of whether the higher initial cost of an inverter air conditioner is justified.
In this article, we will discuss the differences between inverter and non-inverter air conditioners.
When buying an air conditioner, it’s helpful to understand all the available features and how they might work. This guide gives you more information to help you decide which air conditioner is best for you.
What is an Inverter Air Conditioner (A/C), and How Does it Work?
An inverter air conditioner is an air conditioning unit that can provide cooling by recycling the heat that it captures.
They are more energy-efficient than traditional models and are more environmentally friendly than window units or central A/C units.
An inverter, to put it simply, is a device that changes the frequency of the electrical current entering the compressor, allowing it to run at variable speeds.
The inverter compressor does not entirely shut off after reaching the appropriate temperature.
Instead, it runs at a slower speed to keep the temperature set. Inverters have several advantages, the most important of which is that they conserve energy, saving you money in the long term.
Source: srtechnicool.co.za
So, what is really the inverter aircon cost per hour in the Philippines? Let us do a few illustrations below.
How much would an inverter A/C save you?
101appliance.com has compared these two popular local brands of A/C and here’s what comes up.
| Features | Sharp: AF-T1017CR Non-Inverter | AF-X10SCF – Inverter |
| Cooling Capacity | 9,360 kJ/hr 1HP | 9.640 kJ/hr 1.0 HP |
| Room Size | 13 – 17 sqm. | 12 – 18 sqm. |
| EER | 9.9 | 11.2 |
| Wattage | 950W | 810W |
| SRP | P14,999 | P26,998 |
Check the updated prices of Sharp: AF-T1017CR here, and the Sharp AF-X10SCF here.
Miguel Mores of 101appliance.com said that inverter models have a larger cooling capacity, a higher EER, and lower energy usage than non-inverter models. Although the inverter version costs P10,000 more than the non-inverter version.
But wait, what is EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio)?
I’m sure you have this bright yellow label on each of the A/C and Refrigerators in the malls. There are numbers there that look odd. The energy efficiency ratio of our LG refrigerator (as a sample) is the large figure in the center of the label’s energy guidance (EER). Same as the A/C the Energy Guide provides information on the effectiveness of a particular model’s cooling system in terms of energy usage.
A high EER score implies that the certain model is more energy-efficient, resulting in lower operating costs. It’s important to understand that it doesn’t tell you how much it will cost to run, it merely shows you if one model is more efficient than the other.
How much is the monthly electricity bill of a Window Type Inverter A/C?
Here is the mathematical formula to compute for the bill.
To get the kilowatt-hour (kWh), we must divide the A/C’s wattage by 1,000 to convert it to kilowatts.
(Wattage ÷ 1,000) x Hours of use x 30 days x Power Rate = Monthly Electricity Expense
To further illustrate what we are talking about, refer to the table below:
| Model | Energy Consumption | Power Rate (kWh) | Hourly | Cost per Daily | Cost per Monthly | Cost per Yearly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-inverter | 0.95 | P9.0 | P8.6 | P68.4 | P2,052.0 | P24,624.0 |
| Inverter | 0.81 | P9.0 | P7.3 | P58.3 | P1,749.6 | P20,995.2 |
| Savings | P1.3 | P10.1 | P302.4 | P3,628.8 |
The table above shows that the inverter A/C is 15% more efficient than a non-inverter. On a 12-month consumption, you already saved P3,628.8. This amount can already buy you 3 sacks of 25G Premium Dinorado Rice in a year’s time.
A window-type Inverter A/C with a capacity of 1HP can result in a monthly bill of P1,749.6.
How much savings can I make on an Inverter Split-type A/C?
Using a 1HP inverter-type air conditioner, you may save around P410.4 each month on your energy bills.
Take a look at the pricing of this 1HP split-type from Condura and Sharp.
| Features | Condura 1HP Prima Wall Mounted Split Type Non-Inverter Aircon | Sharp AH-XS10VF 1.0 HP Aircon Split Type J-tech Inverter Air Conditioner |
| Cooling Capacity | 9500 | |
| EER | 11.11 | 12.18 |
| Wattage | 830 | 780 |
| Price | ₱23,270.00 | ₱31,098.00 |
By merely looking at the price, the inverter type is P8,000 more expensive than the non-inverter.
But according to 101appliance.com, a split-type inverter A/C could save you up to 22%.
| Model | Energy Consumption (kW) | Power Rate (kWh) | Cost per Hour | Cost per Day | Cost per Month | Cost per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-inverter | 0.86 | P9.0 | P7.7 | P61.9 | P1,857.6 | P22,291.2 |
| Inverter | 0.67 | P9.0 | P6.0 | P48.2 | P1,447.2 | P17,366.4 |
| Savings | P1.7 | P13.6 | P410.4 | P4,924.8 |
The nearly P5,000 saved might be used to purchase 32 pcs 550 ml 550 ml Joy Expert Antibac Safeguard Dishwashing Liquid.
See also: AC Consumption Chart by Meralco
Conclusion
While inverter air conditioners are initially more expensive than non-inverter air conditioners, the energy savings and the longer-lasting motor will pay for themselves in the long term.
Inverter air conditioners may also be programmed to run at a reduced speed to save electricity. Inverter air conditioners are often quieter than non-inverter air conditioners, which isn’t always the case with non-inverter air conditioners.
Because they do not have moving components, inverter air conditioners are generally quieter than non-inverter air conditioners. Inverter air conditioners are also more efficient as a result of inverters. Because they include electronic controls that monitor the compressor output, they utilize less energy than non-inverter air conditioners. When the compressor isn’t in use, it stops operation to save energy.
