What Is the Energy Use of a Goldstar 5000 Window Air Conditioner?

Cooling Power

• The Goldstar 5000 is so named because the air conditioner offers 5,000 BTU per hour in cooling power. This should be sufficient to adequately cool a bedroom, dorm room, hotel room or living area around 100 to 150 square feet in size. There are two fan speeds so that the air conditioner can be run on high or low.

Power Requirements

• Running the Goldstar air conditioner requires a 125 volt, three-wire grounding outlet with 15 amps and a time delay fuse. If you are not certain of the outlet voltage, use a voltmeter to check or contact an electrician for assistance. Do not use an extension cord with the air conditioner as this limits power and, therefore, cooling efficiency.

Energy Efficiency Rating (EER)

• Based on a scale between 8 and 10, the Goldstar 5000 air conditioner has an energy efficiency rating of 9.7, which means that the unit is considered energy efficient. The EER is a measurement of how efficiently the air conditioner runs when the outdoor temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Determining Energy Use

• The true energy use of a Goldstar 5000 air conditioner will depend upon the number of hours the air conditioner runs, the chosen fan speed, the electricity costs in your given area and other factors, such as other heat, light or airflow sources. However, according to Consumer Reports, the approximate utility rate of a 5,000 BTU air conditioner is 10.65 cents per kilowatt hour as of 2011.