If most consumers want to know the efficiency of their central air conditioner, they simply look to the SEER rating. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) is a metric used to measure how much cooling a system puts out for each unit of energy it consumes. In theory, the higher the SEER rating, the more efficiently the air conditioner operates. The problem with the SEER rating is that it doesn’t give consumers an accurate picture of energy efficiency. As a baseline, the SEER measures an air conditioner’s performance at 82 degrees. Most air conditioners don’t need a lot of power to cool down a space at that temp. However, raise the temperature to 90 or 95 degrees—which is a much more likely summer temperature for most U.S. cities—and you lose an entire ton equivalent of air conditioning. By increasing the temp just 10 degrees, the cooling capacity of the unit goes down while the energy consumption goes way up. So, when you’re using a conventional central air conditioner at peak load, you may think you’re getting by with an energy efficient rating of SEER 13, but the fact is, it’s much less.

So, why do we use such an inaccurate measure of efficiency? It’s important to note that SEER is a marketing term used by the air conditioning industry. It was developed by the manufacturers who make traditional, compressor-based products to help make their air conditioners appear more efficient than they actually are.ac heat pump wall units Because our air conditioners don’t have a compressor, we don’t have a SEER rating.charging an ac unit A much more accurate way to determine energy efficiency is using the EER rating—or Energy Efficiency Ratio. how to recharge wall unit acLike the SEER, the EER is calculated by taking the total BTU (British Thermal Unit) of heat rejected, or actual cooling per hour and dividing it by the watts of electricity used to reject the heat.

But, the difference is that the EER is calculated for a controlled environment, whereas the SEER value takes into account seasonal variations. That means the value varies depending on the temperature and humidity of where the air conditioner is located. Most unbiased experts agree that EER is a much more accurate way to rate energy efficiency. In fact, some utilities have voiced concerns with the SEER and have asked for discussions about transitioning to the EER. But, it’s sure to be a long, hard fight because traditional air conditioning manufacturers don’t want the standards changed. Until that happens, the best way for consumers to measure energy efficiency is by simply looking at their cooling bill. Coolerado customers use up to 90% less in cooling consumption. That’s a rating you can believe in … even without a trademark. SEER, AFUE and HSPF Ratings Explained Knowing These Heating and Cooling Efficiency Measurements Can Save You Big Bucks in Energy Costs!

What’s that…the contents of a bowl of alphabet soup? These are government ratings and measurements which are used to gauge the capabilities and energy efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment. Efficiency standards for all heating and cooling units in the U.S. are governed by U.S. law and regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Every heater, air conditioner and heat pump sold in the U.S. is assigned one of these efficiency ratings. If you’re about to purchase a heater, air conditioner or heat pump, you will definitely need to become familiar with these numerical ratings… and with what they mean for both your comfort and your bottom line. SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) SEER is the measure of efficiency by which the cooling process of air conditioners and heat pumps is rated. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency, which yields greater energy savings.The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.

For cooling products sold on the market today, the government requires a minimum SEER rating of 13.0. but if you have an older piece of cooling equipment, you may be operating with a SEER rating as low as 8.0…which means that you’re wasting a lot of energy and money. Consider this: for every $100 you pay to cool your home this summer at an 8.0 SEER, you would get the same amount of cooling AND save $42 if you were operating at 14.0 SEER. AFUE (Average Fuel Utilization Efficiency) AFUE is the standard measurement of efficiency for gas and oil-fired furnaces. Given in percentages, this number tells you how much of your fuel is used to heat your home and how much fuel is wasted. The higher the AFUE rating, the greater the efficiency. If a furnace has a rating of 80% AFUE rating, the furnace converts 80% of the fuel that you supply to heat — the other 20% is lost out of the chimney. The most efficient furnaces in the industry have AFUE ratings of up to 96.7%.If you have an older furnace (with an AFUE of approximately 60%), you could save up to 40% on your heating bills by replacing it with a new high efficiency furnace!

The cost to replace your old, inefficient furnace is paid back through lower utility bills. HSPF is the measurement used to gauge the heating efficiency of heat pumps. (A heat pump’s cooling efficiency is measured by its SEER). The higher the HSPF number, the greater the efficiency and cost-savings.HSPF is a seasonal measure (meaning that it takes into account the fact that the heat pumps rarely for as long as is optimal during Spring and Fall). HSPF can be thought of as the “averaged factor” for an entire heating season. HSPF is calculated by taking the total annual heating requirements, including all energy inputs (defrost and back-up heating energy included) divided by the total electric power used. The industry standard rating system compares BTUs of heat output to watts of electrical energy consumed. There are 3.4 BTUs per watt of electricity; an HSPF of 6.8 corresponds roughly with an averaged factor of 2.Today’s models of heat pumps are required to have a minimum 6.8 HSPF.