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Flash forward a couple of months. It's a typical August day in Tucson, the thermometer is topping 108 degrees, and your air conditioner just died.

The kids are crying, the dog and cat are panting ominously, and it looks like Grandma may need an ambulance ride to the emergency room so she can be treated for heatstroke.

This is not the moment to shop carefully before investing up to $14,000 in a new AC or to switch from an evaporative cooler to central air.

"Panic mode rarely results in a good long-term decision," said Brett Wright, president of D & H Air Conditioning & Heating Co. Inc. in Tucson. Wright himself even acknowledges that he checked into Westward Look Resort in the Foothills last summer after his home system keeled over.

"Often at this time, the question isn't, 'What is the best unit for me?' It's just: 'I want to get it in. Get me the cheapest unit you can, the fastest you can,' " Wright said.

With a dizzying array of new technology and new requirements — with frequently unintelligible descriptions such as R-22 and/or SEERS — the choices you need to make about how to cool (and heat) your desert home have changed radically over the last decade.

Here's a guide to some of the newest things you need to know before that old dinosaur of an AC rattles its last puff of cooled air. With somewhere between 40 percent and 70 percent of the electricity used in every American home going for heating and cooling, your wallet will thank you.

Out with the old (coolant)

Many changes in the air-conditioning landscape are the direct result of new federal regulations designed to cut the pollution spewed by air conditioners and make them more energy-efficient. This includes a change in the stuff — a fluid — used to actually absorb heat.

The old Freon — hydrochlorofluorocarbon, or HCFC — has been banned from new heat pumps and air conditioners made from 2010 on. Look out for the term "R-22," the most common way that AC contractors refer to HCFC.

Instead, look for hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) refrigerant, known as R-410A.

The manufacturing of R-22 will be ramped down, and then eliminated by 2020 — well within the projected 15- to 20-year life span of an AC unit bought this year.

Owners of existing units that require the coolant will increasingly rely on R-22 that is reclaimed and recycled from old conditioners as they are taken off the market.

The Environmental Protection Agency is predicting R-22 shortages by 2015.

"If you need Freon by 2015, you will be paying for it," said Wright, whose company no longer even offers estimates on installations that include R-22. He added, "By 2013, you may find it difficult to even find a service technician who has the proper gauges and tools."

The bottom line: "There is already equipment available on the market specifically for use with HFCs," said Colleen Hughes, public affairs manager for the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute, an industry testing and certification group based in Fairfax, Va. "For homeowners who are thinking of replacing equipment, as we get closer to 2010, it is a good time to look at these options," Hughes said by e-mail.

Wright estimates that a system that uses R-410A costs only $50 to $100 more than one using R-22. But once you buy a system, you're stuck with its coolant — you can't just switch.

The SEER also rises

Big news in the world of air conditioning came in January 2006, when the federal government raised the minimum standard for energy efficiency that AC units have to meet. Units formerly had to meet a SEER standard of 10; new units have to reach a rating of 13 — a 30 percent jump. (SEER, by the way, stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, a measure of energy use.)

This year's nasty surprise for some consumers has been the discovery that the new standards are forcing them to replace both the major components of their AC systems, even though only one component has failed. Instead of replacing only the outdoor (condensing) unit or only the indoor (coil), you have to buy both.

That can hurt. Wright said a complete replacement package will run $5,000 to $14,000; a stripped-down system can be had for perhaps $4,000. Count on spending another $1,000 or so if you never have had central AC and need to add goodies such as an outdoor pad.

"The increased cost of high-efficiency systems may tempt homeowners to skimp on the expense and just replace the broken unit to save money," Hughes said.

But trying to cut corners can hurt even worse, according to local contractors as well as the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute. The indoor and outdoor units are designed to work together, and the old and new technologies can be very different — even if you don't have to worry about different coolants.

"We won't do it anymore, just because of the problems," said Ron Powers, owner of Tucson Air.

"It's not just for efficiency, but for the proper operation of the unit," Wright said. He compared trying to put two non-matching pieces together to trying to run a car with different models of transmission and engine. "It won't cycle, it won't cool properly, and it may not run at all."

The bottom line: "Replacing only one of the two units will not achieve higher efficiency and could in fact reduce the system's capacity and efficiency to cool a home by up to 40 percent," Stephen Yurek, president of the air-conditioning institute, said in a press release.

The highest SEER ratings that the institute certifies today are 23 for a central AC unit and 21 for a heat pump. Local air-conditioning companies regularly offer units in the 16 to 18 range.

Starry, starry might

The federal Energy Star program certifies power-saving household stuff, from air conditioners to light bulbs. In case the prospect of merely saving on pricey electricity is not enough of an incentive, buying an Energy Star-certified AC unit also can earn you tax credits and, from some manufacturers, reductions in interest and loan repayment terms when you finance a purchase.

The bottom line: Check any unit you are considering for clearly posted Energy Star and tax-credit information, and ask about financing options.

Wash that junk right out of my air

When you shop for a new AC unit, you're likely to be offered various add-ons, from humidifiers to air cleaners.

Consumers might be forgiven for thinking that indoor air quality is a no-win dilemma. Open a door or window, and in addition to dust and dirt and heat, you'll be inhaling environmental pollution. Seal your house, and you'll be breathing in whatever gases your home may be emitting. Either way, asthma rates among children are soaring.

"We've been drinking bottled water for 25 years, but we're breathing cruddy air and we don't even think about it," Wright argues. He's particularly enthusiastic about the new generation of air-cleaning technology, which promises to eliminate particulates such as dirt and pet hair, remove various pollutants, and even zap some germs.

The bottom line: If you're considering a bell or whistle, adding a top-of-the-line air-purification system to a new AC is likely to run $1,400 to $1,900. The costs for adding these systems later are much higher.

Keeping your old system humming

Although a really ancient air-conditioning system may simply need to be replaced — and the new unit will pay for itself in lower electric bills — good maintenance can greatly extend the life of your investment.

Filters

The filter is a crucial and frequently neglected component of an AC system. If the air can't flow freely through a clogged filter, nothing else is going to work well, either. D & H's Wright recommends, at minimum, tossing those old fiberglass filters and replacing them with 1-inch pleated models (figure on spending $6 to $12 each). Check every month, and replace the filter when it gets dirty.

Programmable thermostats

The EPA estimates that you can save $150 a year on your power bills merely by installing a thermostat that lets the temperature on your AC rise when you're not home or are asleep. The Energy Star program recognizes models that run on seven-day schedules, as well as five-two and five-one-one schedules that allow for weekend variables.

Maintenance

Bite the bullet and schedule an annual service call to make sure your air-conditioning system is running correctly. It will be cheaper than replacing a damaged or destroyed system. Many companies offer maintenance contracts that include an annual visit with your purchase of a new AC.