Overview

• Units older than roughly 15 years draw about 1.5–2.5 kWh per hour, versus around 0.5 kWh per full cycle for a class A washing machine, according to ENRE data cited by multiple outlets.
• The gap means an hour of cooling on an old non‑inverter AC can equal the electricity of several laundry loads, with estimates of more than 300 kWh extra per year if the unit remains in service.
• Reports attribute the higher draw to the absence of inverter technology in legacy compressors, which run at full power rather than modulating to match room temperature.
• Replacing aging units with high‑efficiency inverter models rated A+++ can cut consumption by up to about 40%, with additional savings from cleaning filters, checking refrigerant and setting 24–26 °C.
• Safety guidance emphasizes direct connections, proper circuit protection and avoiding overloads, and ENRE tables also highlight other high‑load appliances such as certain vitroceramic cooktops.