There is little information or data available in the public domain that explores how exposure to numerous environmental conditions impacts the efficiency of a RAC. This paper details a preliminary study on the short-term impact of salinity, dust, and humidity on the energy efficiency of an RAC. After testing a representative sample of products across brand, category and type, findings from a nationally accredited laboratory indicate that none of the conditions, individually or combined, had any significant effect on energy performance. This paper presents an overview of the methodology employed and discusses key findings, presenting options for future research in assessing the impact of external environmental conditions.