I own a single-story condo unit in Florida. Directly outside my guest
bedroom window are the compressor units for my central air
conditioning system and that of my neighbor.  All night long the units
go on and off.  It is a very intrusive noise. It is difficult for
anyone using the room to sleep. These units cannot be moved. What can
be done to sound proof the bedroom or the units? The building is
concret block. The window is a single glazed, aluminum frame window. 
Is there a type of window that would block the sound? Would a storm
shutter help?

Hi pjm7427,

I love my sleep, and the noise you described would drive me nuts! 
Most of the noise is entering through the window. The concrete block
walls are not the problem. Although it is doubtful you can get rid of
ALL the noise, you should be able to greatly reduce the noise. I have
narrowed the solutions to two for you. They both look excellent.
Personally, because of the cost, I would try the "Plug" method first
with a thick piece of foam. Secondly I would try the soundproof window
idea.

Here's some links so you can decide for yourself:

Noise Control Technologies
http://www.noisecontroltechnologies.com/spw1.htm
It would be best to read the information at this link first. These
folks are selling soundproof windows, and are a competitor of the link
below it. There is a lot of good information here about how we
perceive noise, as it relates to the claims of soundproofing
companies.

Soundproof Windows 
These fall within the price range of $275 to $700.
http://soundproofwindows.com/
..."A Soundproof Window will reduce noise levels by 75-95%. Much
better than any replacement window, Soundproof Windows will eliminate
your noise problem. More than 90% of all the exterior noise comes in
through your windows and doors. Your walls are almost never the
problem. A Soundproof Window is a second window placed behind your
existing window that opens and closes just like your existing window.
No need to remove or replace your existing window. Acoustically
engineered to stop sound, it offers most of the benefits of dual-paned
replacement windows and several benefits not available with
replacement windows. Costs significantly less! ..."

Call toll-free: (877) 438-7843
East of the Mississippi: (877) 800-3850


Another soundproof window company offering "affordable" solutions:

SOUND GUARD WINDOWS & DOORS
http://www.soundguardwindows.com/index.htm
..."will reduce noise levels in your home or business by 75% to 95%,
effectively eliminating your home noise problem..."


There's also the Do-It-Yourself technique. You can use some rigid
insulation sheets, they are often pink in color, cover with fabric and
a glue gun to look nice. Make sure they fit snug inside the window
frame or if not enough room, use Velcro. They fit in the window
opening while you sleep and would store neatly under the bed in the
daytime.

Here's some building instructions:

How to Soundproof Windows
http://www.builtonline.com/articles.cfm?P_ID=386
..."An alternative to replacing the window with double pane glass (a
noise reduction of about 20%) or vinyl frames (noise reduction of
about 30-50%), is to make a removable "plug" to block the sound coming
through the window..."


Additionally, there is some good information about the best building
materials for soundproofing:

Making the World a Quieter Place
http://www.quietsolution.com/?google


I hope this information will help you sleep well!  Let me know if I
can be of any further assistance by asking for a clarification of my
answer....


Sincerely,
~~Cynthia

Search terms used at Google:

soundproof windows
"noise reduction" windows