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CNET
30-07-2025
- General
- CNET
This Is the Only Window AC I Can Count On to Cool My Two-Story Home All Summer Long
CNET's key takeaways The Windmill AC normally starts at $349 for 6,000 BTUs, but you can often find it on sale at Windmill's website Amazon Home Depot Not only is the Windmill AC the easiest unit I've ever installed, it's the only AC unit I've tried that effectively kept my older and not well-insulated home cool during a heat wave. Bonus: It's actually stylish. Although, I still would have paid for an ugly one that works. I'm a sucker for an old home. My current rental -- a 100-year old row home with original 1920s art deco tile -- lured me in with its character and tall ceilings. But it also came with a tough trade-off: no central air conditioning. With record-breaking heat waves regularly hitting in my area, I needed to find window ACs that could cool my poorly insulated 2,500 square foot home. I hunted for the right one for years. Every summer I'd buy and test out new window air conditioners, only to feel frustrated by how poorly they worked. I'd sell them at the end of the season, and restart the cycle again the following year. Finally, after years of sweating through sweltering three-digit temperatures and overbearing humidity, I found it: the Windmill WhisperTech window air conditioner. This innovative powerhouse was so effective at cooling my oversized master bedroom, that I eventually bought two more. These three AC units effectively cool my 2,500-square-foot Philadelphia row home even during intense heat waves. And they look great while they do it. The Windmill AC isn't the cheapest option on the market, but for me, it was well worth every cent. If you're also fed up with sweating indoors, here's why you need to try this game-changing AC. I've had the 12,000 BTU Windmill WhisperTech air conditioner for three years, and it keeps our master bedroom comfortable during intense temperatures. (It's stylish, too!) Courtney Johnston/CNET My experience with the Windmill air conditioner I was skeptical about the Windmill window air conditioner when it first arrived. It was lighter than other units I'd tried out (I could pick it up myself), so I panicked, thinking there was no way this one could cool our south-facing 350 plus square foot bedroom. But within minutes, my partner and I had the unit installed and running. Only a few hours later, our bedroom felt less like a sauna and dropped to 68 degrees Fahrenheit -- a feat that hadn't happened with prior ACs. The humidity, which often jumped up to 65% or higher on humid days also dropped to below 50%. I was equally impressed by how well it maintained its set temperature, too. Especially during intense heat waves. The very next day, I ordered a second unit for the other end of our house. Note: CNET does scientific testing on window ACs at our Louisville testing labs. We will be testing the Windmill AC unit there this summer to see how fast it can cool a heated 92 degree Fahrenheit room and how well it can maintain 68 degrees Fahrenheit -- a tough test many AC units fail at. What makes the Windmill AC different? Windmill air conditioners have a few unique features, but what prompted me to add one to my cart was the unit's cooling design. Windmill ACs push cool air out of the top of the unit at a 45 degree angle for better cooling. After trying several big name window ACs that pushed air out horizontally, I was excited to find that this feature actually cooled a second-story room with a tall ceiling; the air seemed to circulate better since the unit pushes the cold air up, rather than out and down. No more hiding the ugly AC units I'd deal with an ugly air conditioner as long as it cooled my home. But I'm glad I don't have to. The Windmill air conditioner has a sleek, minimal design that many of my friends and family have commented on. The unit has an attractive front panel design that hides its air filter and houses tiny buttons that are nearly hidden at the top of the panel. The LED display lights automatically dim, so you don't have to worry about any visual disruptions at night. It also comes with side panel covers that offer extra insulation and a seamless look. Windmill also offers colorful magnetic panel fronts to add some whimsy to your window, if you're into that kind of thing. It's the quietest AC I've ever owned Although it wasn't a main selling point for me, I'm now a huge fan of Windmill's Whispertech quiet cooling technology. My first priority was an air conditioner that made my house feel comfortable; I just assumed that would come with some noise. The specs list it as 42 decibels -- softer than the average household refrigerator. I found my Windmill units comfortably quiet, even after regularly using two for almost three years. My partner and I are able to watch TV at a normal volume, talk to each other from other ends of the house and jump on work calls without the noise bothering us. I actually enjoy the white noise effect it offers in our bedroom at night. I do sometimes find the running noise distracting when I'm on work calls, but that would happen with any AC since my window is right next to my desk. This typically only happens if it's on high or medium, so I just switch it to low or eco-mode to solve this problem. You can install it in minutes (really) I've installed three of these units in multiple homes and windows, and it only takes me five to ten minutes to set up. That's because this unit comes pre-assembled. There's no attaching panels or screwing brackets onto the base before installing it. All you have to do is add the window foam to the sides of your windows, set the unit onto your window pane, expand the side panels, shut your window, then secure it with screws. If you can't drill into your window panes or if you rent (like me) and don't want to, you can secure it to a block of wood. I usually have my partner help me install this (one of us lifts while the other opens and lowers the window), but I've successfully installed it on my own in the past. It comes with a smart app and voice control Windmill will send a remote with your window AC, but if you have multiple units to control, I highly recommend using Windmill's smart app. It takes just a few minutes to install and register your device (they send a QR code you can use to make set up even easier). The Windmill app makes it easy to control settings for multiple window air conditioners in one spot. Screenshot by Courtney Johnston The app's easy to use and helpful if you leave the house and forget to adjust the temperature before you go. It does occasionally show the wrong temperatures, though. I had an issue with my office AC's temperature on the app showing as 61 degrees when it clearly wasn't, but a quick reset of the AC solved that. Similar to a smart thermostat, you can create automations to lower or raise the temperature, speed or even shut the unit off at certain times of day. It's a great tool if you want to raise the temperature while you're at work or away for a weekend. I don't use the voice control with Alexa feature, but if you're into that, it seems easy to set up. Eco mode keeps my energy bill low Since I have gas heat, my electric bill tends to go up in the summer when I'm running the AC. While that's still the case, I don't worry about large energy bill surges anymore. Windmill's eco-mode helps my rooms stay cool without causing a surprise electric bill. Windmill air conditioners are Energy Star rated, with up to a 15 Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio rating. To earn an Energy Star rating, air conditioners need a CEER rating of 12 or higher. Solves the storage dilemma I'm lucky to have a basement where I can store my air conditioners when I'm not using them. But if you don't have an extra closet or garage to house these units during the winter, Windmill sells winter covers that will protect your unit, keep your house insulated, and add a pop of color (if you choose) to your window. I like this idea, although the current options are fairly limited and I don't personally love any of the color schemes they offer. The specs 6,000, 8,000, 10,000 and 12,000 BTU units available. Pre-assembled for easy installation WhisperTech quiet technology The 6,000 BTU unit is 42 decibels Comes with side panel covers for extra insulation and a seamless finish Airflow at a 45 degree angle Auto-dimming LED lights Three cooling options Three fan speeds Eco-mode Remote control Smart app and voice control One-year limited warranty The 6,000 BTU unit retails for $350, but we usually see it on sale for $340. The 12,000 BTU retails for $629 and often on sale for $589. This 12,000 BTU Windmill air conditioner was installed in our dining room and cools our entire downstairs. Courtney Johnston/CNET CNET's buying advice I recommend Windmill window air conditioners to everyone I know who's looking for one. My experience with three units I own has been nothing but positive. They've outperformed GE and Midea air conditioners I've tried in the past and work well to keep my humid row house cool and comfortable. The biggest drawback of the Windmill air conditioner is its price. While the cost is on par with competitors like July (yes, they're an AC company named after one of the hottest months of the year) and Midea, you can find more affordable options. Paying $630 for a 12,000 BTU window air conditioner is a steep price, but you can frequently find them on sale at Windmill's website or at Amazon, Home Depot, Lowes, P.C. Richards and Costco. If a Windmill AC isn't in your budget, don't go into debt to buy one. Instead consider the GE 5,000 BTU mechanical window air conditioner, CNET's best budget pick, the GE AHEC05AC window AC for around $160-170.
1News
24-07-2025
- 1News
'Best of the best': Te Papa named among top 1% of global attractions
Te Papa has been named in the top 1% "Best of the Best attractions worldwide" in the TripAdvisor 2025 Travellers' Choice Awards. The museum in the capital was also labelled the best attraction in New Zealand, and the fifth best attraction in the South Pacific. Its recognition was backed by exceptional visitor feedback, with the museum maintaining a 4.7-star rating out of 5 based on over 14,415 reviews, with 11,127 five-star reviews contributing to the museum's outstanding reputation. Visitors frequently highlighted the museum's Māori taonga, its Gallipoli: The Scale of Our War exhibition, and the Te Taiao Nature immersive natural history area, according to TripAdvisor. "This TripAdvisor win cements our place as a must-see destination for visitors from around the world,' Te Papa chief executive Courtney Johnston said. ADVERTISEMENT The museum was also ranked New Zealand's top attraction in 2024. Entry is free for all New Zealanders, while international visitors aged 16 and over have been charged a $35 entry fee since last September. 'To maintain our number one status in our first year of charging international visitors is just fantastic,' Te Papa Māori co-leader Dr Arapata Hakiwai said. In the 2024/2025 financial year, Te Papa welcomed over 1 million visitors – 428,266 of whom were international. The international visitors came primarily from Australia, the United Kingdom, the US, Germany and France, TripAdvisor said. The overseas visitors spent an average of 121 minutes exploring the museum's extensive collections and exhibits. The TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Awards are based on the quality and quantity of reviews from its users over a 12-month period.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Suboptimal at best': Embattled ex-Nashville General CEO to get an $890K settlement
Joseph Webb, the embattled former CEO of Nashville General Hospital, stepped down from his position several weeks ago just hours before the release of a scathing audit report covering various examples of mismanagement at the community's safety net hospital. Now, he's getting a more than $890,000 payout. On Tuesday, the Metro Nashville Council authorized the Metro Department of Law to pay Webb an $890,813.26 settlement after he claimed to be owed more than $1 million in unpaid salary and retirement benefits from his 10 years as the hospital's top official. The settlement was approved by a 34-1 vote, with District 12 Council Member Erin Evans the lone "no" vote. Council members Tonya Hancock, Jennifer Webb, Brandon Taylor and Courtney Johnston abstained, and District 22 Council Member Sheri Weiner was absent. Several council members voiced their hesitancy ahead of the vote. Some, like Evans, said they felt the payout was too high. Others like Johnston said it was a situation that gave her "heartburn." District 2 Council Member Kyonzté Toombs, on the other hand, said the settlement had nothing to do with Webb's performance and cautioned her colleagues against "adding acrimony" to an already strained relationship between Nashville General and the city. And District 5 Council Member Sean Parker urged the group to consider the bigger picture and turn the page on the hospital's current state. Metro Law Director Wally Dietz reminded council members that the settlement was also meant to help Metro avoid a lawsuit and likely "contentious and uncertain" trial. Along with the payout, Dietz said Webb agreed to drop any other outstanding claims he could have against the city. "This situation's suboptimal, at a minimum," Dietz told council members. "But we are where we are." The search for Webb's replacement is still underway. In the meantime, Chief Nursing Officer Veronica Elders was announced as the hospital's acting manager in early March. Along with the settlement, council members unanimously approved — with District 26 Council Member Courtney Johnston abstaining — another resolution related to Nashville General Tuesday night, authorizing a $10 million payment to the Hospital Authority of Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County. At-Large Council Member Delishia Porterfield, the chair of the council's Budget and Finance Committee, told the group that the funds are meant to help the hospital maintain its current level of operations through the end of the current fiscal year, and also to address some of the concerns outlined in the audit. Along with the $10 million added to the hospital's coffers Tuesday, Nashville General received a more than $59.5 million subsidy in the 2025 Metro budget. Austin Hornbostel is the Metro reporter for The Tennessean. Have a question about local government you want an answer to? Reach him at ahornbostel@ This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Embattled ex-Nashville General CEO to get $890K settlement
