The dog days of summer are here, bringing fun in the sun and … the dreaded humidity, heat waves and relentless sweating. If you don't have the luxury of central AC (like me), the only thing that can get you through the season is a trusty window air conditioning unit.
As a diehard “fashion over function” type, the thought of investing in a clunky, noisy box that would take up half of my precious window space hurt. In addition to being an eyesore, I was worried about the damage that window units, or power inverter air conditioners, might do to my monthly energy bill (and the planet!). That is, until I tried a new, design-forward unit in my NYC apartment, when all of my hang-ups around air conditioners went — literally — out the window.
Why I tried the Windmill Window Air Conditioner
I initially heard about the Windmill unit on TikTok, where users were praising its modern and aesthetically pleasing design. When I got the chance to try it out, I had to see for myself what all the hype was about. I made use of Windmill's white-glove installation service to get the unit safely into my fifth floor apartment window, and the team was in and out in under 15 minutes — a testament to the brand's user-friendly installation process.
Why I like the Windmill Window Air Conditioner
First of all, the machine is incredibly sleek, with rounded corners and an inconspicuous front vent and control panel. Its display fades after 60 seconds, eliminating pesky blue light that would otherwise keep me up at night. And added stylish touch: Shoppers can now personalize the front grill of their Windmill units and choose from four colors Sky, Dusk, Lavender and Sunset.
It's quiet and cools well
But as nice as it looks in my window, nothing beats the refreshingly cold air that immediately blows from the machine as soon as I hit the power button. The thoughtfully designed unit directs airflow up and out — instead of blasting at my waist like cheaper fans I've tried — for a more even distribution. Plus, it does all this while staying quiet.
Speaking of quiet, the brand released its new energy-efficient core WhisperTech, which "combines advanced inverter technology with an ultra-quiet fan," and is said to be nine times quieter than non-inverter units. The feature is available in medium and large units (10,000 BTU), which cover 350 and 450 square feet, respectively.
Last summer, this AC unit steadily cooled my apartment with no problems, but it came in handy the most during a string of New York days that pushed 100 degrees. Thankfully, these blistering heat waves were no match for this machine, which has adjustable temperature controls, four fan speeds, and three cooling modes: "fan," "cool" and "eco." In about 30 minutes, my bedroom — which is about 200 square feet in size — drops an impressive 10 degrees. And although the 8,000 BTU unit is only designed to cool down small to medium spaces, I've noticed that my entire 600-square-foot apartment is more comfortably chilled in just a couple of hours.
It's smart
But my favorite part is that it has its own app, where I can adjust all of the settings and control the unit from anywhere through my phone. Being able to start my AC as I head out of the office will be such a game-changer this summer — no more coming home to a hot, stuffy apartment! I have yet to try the voice-control feature, but users can also connect to the unit through their Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
I'm also happy to report that this unit is designed with the environment in mind. It uses R32 refrigerant to cool the air, which the brand says is "a responsible choice that has 30% less global warming potential than the more commonly used refrigerants on the market today.” Windmill also recently created an optional initiative called Eco Rewards, which is said to ultimately decrease the risk of overloading electrical grids that can cause blackouts, excess pollution, and higher energy bills. The program allows Windmill to remotely tweak your AC settings during peak demand by a barely detectable 2-4 degree difference. By signing up, you're not only helping to conserve energy, but you can also earn cash and other rewards.
More window air conditioners to shop
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Audrey Ekman is a production associate at Shop TODAY, where she writes and produces digital editorial and broadcast content.
