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A bit over a year ago I went to Japan. Ah, how I miss it, and the world in which travel was trivial, or at least not life-threatening.
In honor of that, and the central air hear breaking tonight, let me extol again the Best Air Conditioner: ductless mini-split.
Quieter than central air!
Just as personally controllable as a window unit!
Just as energy efficient as window if you don't want to heat the whole house! (Maybe more so, easier to seal against leaks.)
Can be put anywhere with a bit of drilling, so more flexible than window units that really want a particular kind of window!
Plus many models come with a reversible heat cycle, so you can use them for heating. Resistive heat would be expensive compare to natural gas heat, but I think a heat pump is comparable -- and if you're lucky enough to have green electricity, better for the environment.
Disadvantages: expensive, and if you're renting an apartment you can't just slip it in.
But still, awesome, and ubiquitous in Japan, and common in Australia.
In honor of that, and the central air hear breaking tonight, let me extol again the Best Air Conditioner: ductless mini-split.
Quieter than central air!
Just as personally controllable as a window unit!
Just as energy efficient as window if you don't want to heat the whole house! (Maybe more so, easier to seal against leaks.)
Can be put anywhere with a bit of drilling, so more flexible than window units that really want a particular kind of window!
Plus many models come with a reversible heat cycle, so you can use them for heating. Resistive heat would be expensive compare to natural gas heat, but I think a heat pump is comparable -- and if you're lucky enough to have green electricity, better for the environment.
Disadvantages: expensive, and if you're renting an apartment you can't just slip it in.
But still, awesome, and ubiquitous in Japan, and common in Australia.