12,000 btu should be more than enough for 400 square feet . We are using a 5,000 btu to cool roughly the same area ... also in a bedroom window ... its doing a good job with a small fan to blow the cold out of the room . We keep the bedroom doors open .
My though .. without seeing your place .. cover up all those ceiling to floor windows with some nice WHITE curtians or blinds to keep the sun out durring the day .
2 hours to cool a room ? thats crazy , something doesn't sound right there .