Noria Window Air Conditioner
Granted, when it's hotter than a dragon's undercarriage out and I'm tasked with sleeping through the night, I don't really care if the air-circulating device that makes that possible looks like Jabba the Hutt's butt crack. But I do appreciate that the Noria looks a helluva lot cleaner, slimmer, and generally more pleasing as the thing that's going to blow on me all summer. The forthcoming window air conditioner says I'll also find it much easier to install, operate, and use "smartly" than I would Jabba's butt crack.
Noria weighs about 30 pounds, and comes with a window frame adapter that helps slide its 5.8" x 18.25" x 15" (H x W x D) self into windows measuring 21" to 36" wide. The adapter installs first, creating a secure, sealed socket into which you simply slip and lock the air conditioning unit itself. A handle and rounded sides further reduce bulkiness and the typical cumbersome, lumbering nature of the task.
Noria's user interface consists of a single knob for temperature / thermostat control, plus the option to set a cooling schedule via its iOS and Android apps.
During operation, Noria says it functions efficiently, directing cool air towards the ceiling to create a convective cycle that eliminates cold and hot spots in the room. At 5,000 BTU / hour, the air conditioner can cool a 10' x 16' room; two of then units can cool a room up to 330 square feet. It also has a Fresh Air Mode that turns off the compressor and draws in outside air when temperatures drop.
Noria outputs around 50dB of sound during operation. While this is higher than the 10dB of my girlfriend, She-Ra: Princess of power, breathing, it is way less than the 80dB of my alarm clock, and the 110dB of my friend Cornelius snoring in the next room. The company likens 50dB to the sound of moderate rainfall.
Noria seeks crowdfunding on Kickstarter through June 3, 2016.
June 2020 Update: Noria appears to have rebranded as Kapsul, and a model of this window air conditioner, the Kapsul W5, was available for pre-order at printing.
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