¿Qué sistema de refrigeración comparativo le permitirá ahorrar más este verano: aire acondicionado de ventana, aire acondicionado central o bomba de calor?

¿Te preguntas qué sistema de refrigeración te ahorrará más energía en el verano de 2025? Compara aires acondicionados de ventana, aires acondicionados centrales y bombas de calor, y descubre cómo los termostatos inteligentes de Grus.io mejoran la eficiencia.

Robert Johnson,July 28, 2025

As record-breaking heat waves sweep across the U.S. this summer, millions of homeowners face the same pressing question:What’s the most cost-effective way to keep cool?

Should you install awindow AC, upgrade tocentral air, or invest in a modernbomba de calor?

Before diving into energy usage, installation costs, and climate efficiency, let’s break down what these systems are — and what they’recalled in the U.S. market, since terminology can often be a source of confusion.

Energy Saving Cycle of a Heat Pump -

🧾 Common U.S. Cooling System Types and Terminology

Tipo de sistemaU.S. Market TermCommon in Homes?Primary FunctionNotas
Window ACWindow Air Conditioner✅ Yes (older/small homes, apartments)Cooling onlyOften found in rental apartments and single-room use
Central Air SystemCentral AC✅ Yes (suburban homes)Cooling onlyRequires ductwork throughout the house
Heat PumpHeat Pump HVAC✅ Increasingly commonHeating & coolingEnergy-efficient alternative to both furnace and AC

🔎Clarification: In the U.S., “air conditioner” usually refers tocentral air systems. The term “heat pump” refers to adual-purpose HVAC systemthat provides both cooling and heating — very popular in energy-efficient homes.

🌡️ Comparing Systems: Cost, Efficiency & Coverage

Let’s look at the high-level differences between the three cooling systems:

--- title: "Cooling Systems Comparison Overview" --- flowchart LR WindowAC["Window AC"]:::ac CentralAC["Central Air Conditioner"]:::central HeatPump["Heat Pump"]:::pump WindowAC --> WCost["Low upfront cost"]:::cost WindowAC --> WScope["Cools 1 room"]:::scope WindowAC --> WEff["Low efficiency"]:::eff CentralAC --> CCost["Higher install cost"]:::cost CentralAC --> CScope["Whole-house via ducts"]:::scope CentralAC --> CEff["Medium efficiency"]:::eff HeatPump --> HCost["Moderate to high install"]:::cost HeatPump --> HScope["Whole-house or zones"]:::scope HeatPump --> HEff["High efficiency"]:::eff %% 分色 classDef ac fill:#b3e5fc,stroke:#0288d1,stroke-width:2px,color:#01579b,rounded:10px classDef central fill:#fff9c4,stroke:#fbc02d,stroke-width:2px,color:#7c6500,rounded:10px classDef pump fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#205620,rounded:10px classDef cost fill:#ffe082,stroke:#ffb300,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#7c4d00,rounded:10px classDef scope fill:#e1bee7,stroke:#8e24aa,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#4a148c,rounded:10px classDef eff fill:#b2dfdb,stroke:#00897b,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#004d40,rounded:10px

🧊 Real-World Use Case Example

  • Awindow ACmight be perfect for arenter living in a studio apartment, needing cooling for only one room.
  • Acentral ACsystem is standard in many U.S.suburban homes, offering full-house cooling, but often uses more electricity.
  • Abomba de calor, especially in regions like thePacific Northwest or Southeast, can dramatically lower year-round HVAC costs by combining heating and cooling.

💡 Tip from Energy Experts

According to the U.S. Department of Energy,heat pumps can reduce electricity use for heating by approximately 50%compared to electric resistance heating, while offering comparable cooling performance to ACs.

✅ Summary Table: Cooling Systems At-a-Glance

CaracterísticaWindow ACCentral ACHeat Pump
Cooling CoverageSingle roomWhole homeWhole home / Zoned
Heating Capability❌ No❌ No✅ Sí
Costo de instalación💲💲💲💲💲💲 to 💲💲💲
Eficiencia energética⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Smart Thermostat Compatible🟡 Partial✅ Sí✅ Sí
Ideal paraRenters, small spaceExisting ductsEco-conscious homes

📉 Energy Usage & Monthly Electricity Costs

To help you choose the most economical cooling system, let’s break down the typicalseasonal energy use and monthly costsof each system. For the analysis, we assume:

  • 1,500–2,000 sq ft home
  • Summer use in a hot U.S. climate (Zone 2 or 3)
  • $0.16 per kWh average electricity cost
Cooling SystemTypical kWh/monthAvg. Monthly CostEfficiency Notes
Window AC (2 units)350–450 kWh56–72Only cools some rooms
Central AC600–900 kWh96–144Cools whole house, but often runs inefficiently
Heat Pump (SEER 20)450–600 kWh72–96High-efficiency dual-purpose system

🔧Nota: A modern high-efficiencybomba de calorcan outperform older central ACs, especially when combined with smart thermostats and zoning.

🧠 Why “Turning AC On and Off” Isn’t Always Efficient

Many homeowners think they’ll save money by turning off the air conditioner entirely when they leave home. While that may seem logical,this isn’t always true.

Why?

  • Restarting a hot house can cause the system torun continuouslyat max power to catch up, usingmore energythan keeping it at a steady efficient level.
  • Sudden humidity shifts can also affectindoor air quality and comfort.

Mejores prácticas:Utilice untermostato inteligenteor remote AC controller toraise the temperaturewhile you’re away — not turn it off entirely — andcool down before you return.

🌐 Grus.io Solution: Smart Control with Energy Awareness

At Grus.io, we’ve developed a suite oftermostatos inteligentesandremote water/energy control devicesthat are perfect companions for heat pump and AC owners:

ProductoIdeal paraKey FeatureLink
EcoNet-HPHeat Pump ownersAI-assisted energy schedulingVer producto
EcoNet-TUCentral AC with heat pumpProgrammable, WiFi enabledVer producto
Grus App (free)All usersRemote control + energy reportsBuilt into all devices

🔌 Real Case: How Smart Thermostats Lowered Costs

User: Emma, Texas

“I used to leave my AC running all day. After switching to a Grus smart thermostat, I set a daily schedule: it goes up to 82°F when I leave and cools down to 74°F before I get back. My summer bill dropped by almost 20%!”

📊 Smart Control Impact Chart

--- title: "AC Cost with vs. without Smart Thermostat" --- flowchart LR NoSmart["No Smart Thermostat(Central AC)"]:::old -->|"$140/month"| HighCost["Highest Cost"]:::cost1 WithSmart["With Smart Thermostat(Central AC + EcoNet)"]:::smart -->|"$110/month"| LowCost["Lower Cost"]:::cost2 SmartHeatPump["Smart Heat Pump(EcoNet-HP)"]:::pump -->|"$90/month"| LowestCost["Lowest Cost"]:::cost3 %% 分色 classDef old fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#b71c1c,stroke-width:2px,color:#b71c1c,rounded:10px classDef smart fill:#ffe082,stroke:#fbc02d,stroke-width:2px,color:#7c6500,rounded:10px classDef pump fill:#b2dfdb,stroke:#00897b,stroke-width:2px,color:#004d40,rounded:10px classDef cost1 fill:#ffcdd2,stroke:#b71c1c,stroke-width:2px,color:#b71c1c,rounded:10px classDef cost2 fill:#ffe082,stroke:#fbc02d,stroke-width:2px,color:#7c6500,rounded:10px classDef cost3 fill:#c8e6c9,stroke:#388e3c,stroke-width:2px,color:#205620,rounded:10px

⚠️ Avoid These Cooling Mistakes

  • ❌ Turning off AC completely during the day
  • ❌ Opening windows at night in humid climates
  • ❌ Using outdated window units with low EER rating
  • ❌ Not using ceiling fans to assist airflow

✅ Instead,combine cooling systems with smart devicesfor precise control and optimized scheduling.

📍 Match Cooling Systems to Climate and Home Type

Not every system fits every household. Below is a region-based and property-type recommendation matrix to help you decide:

Location / ClimateHome TypeBest Cooling ChoiceWhy
Southern US (Hot & Humid)Small ApartmentWindow AC + Smart PlugCost-effective + fast cooling
Western US (Dry/Hot)Medium House (own)Heat Pump + EcoNet-HPEfficient year-round heating & cooling
Northern USLarge HomeCentral AC + EcoNet-TUFull-home coverage + smart zoning
Mobile Home / RVAny sizeSmart AC controller onlyRemote control + scheduling flexibility

🧠 Smart Thermostats = Smarter Decisions

Why Grus.io Smart Thermostats Make the Difference:

  • Learning Behavior: Automatically adjusts based on daily routines.
  • Weather Adaptation: Pre-cools ahead of heat waves.
  • Mando a distancia: Turn AC off/on from anywhere via Grus App.
  • Informes de energía: Get real-time data on usage, trends, and cost.

💡 Bonus Tip: Combine with Smart Water Valve

Hot weather means higher water usage (e.g. for gardens, cooling). Pairing withAquaNet-BDhelps avoid unnecessary water waste and leak risks when AC condensers are running heavily.

🔚 Conclusion: Which Cooling System Saves the Most in Summer?

TL;DR:

  • 💸Window ACis cheap upfront but costly long-term.
  • 🌀Central ACoffers comfort but can be inefficient.
  • 🔁Heat Pump + Smart Thermostatprovides thebest energy-to-comfort ratio.

✅ Best Setup for 2025:

🔹EcoNet-Termostato inteligente HP+ High SEER Heat Pump

🔹 Paired withGrus Aplicación de energía para el hogarfor full remote access

🔹 Optional: AddAquaNet-BDfor water leak and valve control


📚 Related Reads

  1. El mejor termostato inteligente de 2025: las mejores opciones y guía de compra
  2. Los mejores termostatos inteligentes para la comodidad del hogar y el ahorro energético
  3. Smart Thermostats - Grus.io Blog Collection