在美国的许多地方，住宅空调系统被认为是必不可少的。应根据估计热增益与制造商性能规范的比较来选择这些产品。然后，应按照制造商的规范安装所选的空调。现实情况与这种情况大不相同。最后，空调的选择和安装都是在降低性能的现场条件下进行的。本研究考察了影响绩效的三个衡量因素: 冷却负荷、容量和阁楼温度。这些结果是从亚利桑那州菲尼克斯市四个受到严密监测的新单户住宅中获得的。这项研究发现，在没有“安全”因素的情况下，最广泛接受的显热增量计算高估了这些住宅的显热增量约50%。五台空调中有两台的实际容量明显低于规格。两台容量不足的空调的气流都很低，一台严重充电不足。 当风管位于阁楼内时，阁楼温度对强制空气分配效率至关重要。在这些住宅中，顶楼的最高温度比室外温度高28华氏度（16摄氏度）到4华氏度（2摄氏度）。单位:双引文:研讨会，ASHRAE交易，1998年，第104卷，pt。1A，旧金山

Residential air-conditioning systems are considered essential in many parts of the United States. These products should be selected based on a comparison of the estimated heat gain to the manufacturer's performance specifications. The selected air conditioners should then be installed to the manufacturer's specifications. The reality departs significantly from this scenario. In the end, air conditioners are selected and installed under field conditions that degrade performance.This study examines three measured factors that affect performance: cooling load, capacity, and attic temperatures. These results were obtained from four intensively monitored, new single-family homes in Phoenix, Arizona. This study found that the most widely accepted sensible heat gain calculation, applied without "safety" factors, overestimated the sensible heat gain for these homes by approximately 50%.Two of the five air conditioners had sensible capacities significantly below specifications. Both air conditioners with deficient capacity had low airflow and one was seriously undercharged.Attic temperatures are critical in forced-air distribution efficiency when the ducts are in the attics. On these homes, attic temperatures at peak ranged from 28°F (16°C) to 4°F (2°C) above outside temperatures.Units: Dual