Air conditioning season has officially arrived, but choosing a portable unit that works for your space — both functionally and aesthetically — has rarely been a possibility. Windmill, a company founded by two NYC-based brothers, invented Windmill Air and effectively transformed the portable AC/ HVAC industry you've known. Not only does their award-winning modern design suit contemporary and modern homes and apartments like a dream, but the brothers have engineered a quieter "whisper" inverter tech that traditional AC manufacturers just haven't mastered in any way.
"The air conditioning space overall has been stuck in the past for quite some time. Today’s consumers demand more from their brands and products, and we don’t think AC should be an exception. A great AC should cool quietly and efficiently and should be intuitive to interact with and use on a daily basis," shared Mike Mayer, Co-Founder of Windmill. "Before we started the business, we asked thousands of window AC customers what they wanted most from their air conditioning units. They told us they wanted a smart AC that’s beautiful (that they’re actually proud to have in their home!) and easy to install."
Mayer goes on to cite some of the best features they developed to support what they learned in their research. Windmill Air is sleek, quiet, smart (yes, it's smartphone app-enabled), and thoughtful, with double-side insulation, air that blows up and out (not in your face!), and an auto-dimming display (so you can sleep without LED lights shining at you). The advanced inverter technology enables the smart air conditioner to be 9X quieter and up to 35% more energy efficient than traditional, non-inverter portable air conditioners.
- Easy installation process
- Efficient cooling (up to 15.0 CEER)
- Quiet (42dB)
- Smart features include app and voice control (via Google Home and Amazon Alexa)
- Remote control
- Simple on-unit buttons
- 3 cooling settings
- 3 fan speeds
- Can be left in year-round thanks to its double-sided insulation and optional winter covers
8K BTU and 10K BTU WhisperTech window units are priced at $449 and $549, respectively. The 12K BTU with WhisperTech technology, a popular model with the most powerful AC unit, is priced at $599.
What is WhisperTech? Can it really cool a space in seconds?
Windmill's WhisperTech technology sets a new standard for efficiency. "WhisperTech™ performance is powered by an advanced compressor and smart microprocessors — it’s like having a big brain inside your AC that knows when to ramp up or down depending on your AC settings and what’s happening in the room," explains Mayer. "Plus, WhisperTech™ ACs use a near-silent linear (or scroll) fan that pumps the air into the room quickly and quietly."
- With a variable-speed compressor that conserves energy without compromising room comfort
- Enhanced vents for improved air intake
- A virtually silent linear fan for seamless airflow
Choosing Between 8K BTUs, 10K BTUs, and 12K BTUs
"Choosing the right size AC for your space is really important," emphasizes Mayer. "If the AC is too small for your room, it could stay on too long and use too much electricity (and ultimately burn out). If the AC is too big for your room, it could turn on and off continuously (since it will cool the room quickly and then stop), leaving you with a broken AC."
He adds, "[Measuring your] square footage is the first step. Our 8K BTU cools rooms up to 350 square feet, our 10K BTU cools rooms up to 450 square feet, and our new 12K BTU cools rooms up to 550 square feet. Of course, there are other factors to consider. You should size up one level if your space has more than 3 people in it on average, is higher than the third floor of a building, has large ceilings over 9 feet, has a ton of direct sunlight, or has heat-generating appliances like dishwashers or refrigerators."
If you like Windmill Air, You’ll Also Like the Smart Fan
The collection of smart home devices recently expanded to include The Windmill Fan, a small, compact desk or table fan that's just as well-designed, Whisper quiet, and powerful as can be. Nearly inaudible during Whisper Mode (19dBs—the quietest fan of its size), but strong enough to circulate air throughout a large room in its Boost Mode (over 380 CFM). It's 29% more powerful, 25% smaller, and 20% quieter than other traditional fans in its category.
