Living in the northeastern part of the country, I’ve never felt that central air conditioning was necessary. The local weather is cold and snowy for the majority of the year. I often find it necessary to start up the furnace in early September. It’s not unusual to rely on the heater until the end of April. Over the very long winters, the temperature drops into the negative digits and we accumulate over three feet of snow. The weather forecast constantly calls for freezing rain, lake-effect snow, blizzard conditions, white-outs and dangerous wind chills. By the time the conditions warm up, I am very eager to open the windows. I look forward to fresh air and lower utility bills. Although the summer weather doesn’t last long, the temperature can climb into the high eighties and the humidity is always brutal. I manage comfort with window air conditioners in each bedroom. I shopped a sale, took advantage of a manufacturer’s rebate and purchased the cooling units for under $200 each. They are wonderfully light-weight and compact and are extremely easy to install. I carry them down from the attic in the spring, set them into the windows and plug them in. Despite the small size, the air conditioners easily handle demand. It only takes a few minutes of operation to cool down the bedrooms. Since we only run the cooling units when we head to bed at night, the cost of electricity is minimal. I like that each one includes a wireless remote, allowing us to adjust temperature and fan speed without even getting out of bed. I sleep so much better when the air conditioner is making noise, circulating the air and providing comfort.