During the hot summer months, a portable air conditioner canoffer cold relief from the stifling heat. For homeowners living ingenerally temperate climates, a portable air conditioner may makemore sense than an expensive permanent air conditioner. Whenselecting a portable air conditioner, consider the British ThermalUnits (BTU) rating, the included features, and the energyefficiency of the unit.A BTU rating typically determines the amount of space a portableair conditioner can cool satisfactorily. A higher rated unit willcool a larger room effectively. Determine the size of the roomsbefore choosing an air conditioner. A unit with a BTU rating notfit for the desired room will waste energy and provide insufficientcooling.Portable air conditioners can offer dehumidifiers, fans, andheating elem