Finally an energy saving window unit built ! Wow

Thanks Dave.

With a suggested price of $469 for a 14,000 unit it's a lot less expensive than the mini-split.       And at 44 db it's quiet too.

Newbie here, after paying almost $500 per mo this past summer in electric bills to run the ac 12 hrs a day (can't afford a divorce), with the knowledge I gained from installing a 500 watt array (2x 250; 40 amp cc; 1k watt ps xantrex inv; 430 amp batteries) to run my pond pump & 400 watts of panels on my trailer (same  solar set up and runs a 10cuft frig and all led lights for 3 days)

I've been looking to run 3-4 split air units on panels (each independent) to cool part of my 2500 sq ft home here in so cal. Was just about to go for it when I ran across this article for window units and just about jumped out of my chair b/c of the simplicity to install vs split air.

My initial thinking is along the following lines: 4x300 watt panels; 40 amp cc, 1500 ps inverter,("x" hrs battery back up), to run the window units at 300 watts+/- first thing in the am until it really starts to heat up then increase to 800+/- watts until later afternoon then reduce to 300 watts then battery back up for 2-3 hours. I realize the solar array won't be able to run the LG 14000 btu full blast all day but at 300-800 watts for the entire day on solar which should keep house at a cool temp, even with 3-4 units, I'm thinking this will use a heck of a lot less electricity than what I'm using now with my central hvac unit especially since two bedrooms are now emptynesters.

Dave, any input or suggestions?   My back yard is  pretty big and have area to face some panels east/west and others right over pool equipment/bedroom deck, so have solar panel placement covered.

Bill & Dave, thanks for the reply,and, after posting I basically came to the same conclusion; try it out first and measure use. As to a solar set up, it would be off grid and my thinking is to just use the panels to power the a/c from about 10-5 which would save me a lot of electricity keeping me in that 2nd tier of SCE rate. I went into that 3rd tier June-Sept and that rate really spiked my bill. I really don't see batteries running these after  panels stop producing enough watts. I would probably have a small battery back up just to store any excess power the a/c didn't use.

What do you think? 1200 watts of panels to run the a/c during day only? 

House has blown insulation and is well vented and in good shape. walls also fully insulated. I'm here in the Los Angeles area. My hvac works great it's just the damn cost in the summer. If i could get 3 of these units to cool the areas we actually use in the house; bedroom/tv room and kitchen, (1100+/- sqft.) and I could run 6-7 hours on solar this would really save on my bill. I figure about $2,300-2,500 cost per unit (a/c, panels,inverter/cc-i have wiring/channel to mount etc).  3 units, total cost $7,500. if i save $400 a month for 3.5 months each summer the payback is about 6 years. The cost vs. payback is worth it to me. I can't see spending any more than this to get full solar for my house. I;m pretty stingy on using power. My bill w/o ac is about $120 per month and that's running my variable speed pool pump 4 hrs a day; frig/wine frig inside, outdoor frig, timers/motion detectors on all lighting.  (yeah, i know I could close vents to rooms that we don't use but I have read this is not good for a forced air system/and mine works great).

As to the lg-lw1517ivsm ac, i just took a look at one and i thought i read a thread somewhere that these lg's were a/c and heat. Am I wrong about this? the lg is a/c only? thanks for the reply's, oh, and if the lg is a/c and heat, what's the model number? 12k or 14k btu.