Turning the unit on is as intuitive as you'd expect from any other modern tech device: I can control its settings and turn the AC on and off with an app—a lifesaver if I'm coming home from an overly sweaty commute and want my room to feel like an icebox before I pull out my keys. If apps aren't your thing, there's also includes a sleek matching remote that syncs via Bluetooth.
So what about its cooling powers? It's top-notch in my book. Windmill's website states that it uses a more environmentally conscious refrigerant called R32 over traditionally used liquid refrigerants (like R410a, which doesn't recycle as easily and has more polluting chemicals compared with R32, according to a study) that leads to “68% less global warming potential.”
There's also an eco-friendly mode I keep on that switches between lower and higher fan speeds to regulate how much power I'm using—in turn, saving me money in the long run by keeping my carbon footprint smaller than if I were to keep the AC blasting all day. Naturally, my electricity bill went up as I turned on my unit more frequently, but not as drastically as I would have thought since NYC was experiencing a summer of record-breaking electricity bills from Con Edison.
What needed work for me
One of the largest promises the Windmill AC unit makes is that it's meant to be whisper-quiet. Although it's far less rumbly than my old air conditioning from the ’80s, I can still hear some humming throughout the night—especially when it's on the medium or high settings. It doesn't disturb me though: The sound resembles a white noise machine more than anything, and I'd take that any day over an excessively sweaty night's sleep.
Is the Windmill worth it?
At $365 for the small and $415 for the medium-sized unit, Windmill's air conditioning has a steeper price point than some other introductory units—which typically range from $150 to $250—from big name brands like GE or Frigidaire. (The price is in line with DTC competitors in the space, notably July.)
Switching over from my first AC unit to the Windmill may have cost me twice as much, but from the moment I set it up, I had no regrets. Granted, it's a hefty price tag to stomach on something you'll use only for a few months a year, but the consistently cool air I get is priceless. And it certainly doesn't hurt that I'm ready to give an Architectural Digest–style home tour video whenever I look at it.
Windmill AC
