You’d be hard-pressed to find a homeowner who isn’t trying to be as energy efficient as possible, but it can be confusing to know exactly how energy efficient your air conditioning system will be when most ACs are made to be at least somewhat energy efficient. However, there is a difference between an air conditioning system that is energy efficient and one that is considered to be high efficiency, as we’ll discuss below.
It’s All About SEER
When you review a specific air conditioning system for your home, you’ll see that it has a rating on it called SEER. This acronym stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio and it will tell you, on a scale of 1 (being the lowest) to 23+, how energy efficient your air conditioning system will be. It’s is mandated by law that all air conditioners are manufactured at a minimum SEER of 13, so any AC you install now will be at this SEER rating. However, SEER 13 isn’t considered high efficiency.
High Efficiency SEER
To be considered a high efficiency air conditioning system, your AC has to have a minimum SEER of 16. This mean it will also have an ENERGY STAR sticker, as high efficiency systems qualify for this program.
What SEER Tells You
It’s important to understand what SEER means before purchasing an AC system based solely on its SEER rating. If you have two air conditioners, the same make and model, one with a SEER rating of 13 and one with a SEER rating of 16, the model with the higher SEER number doesn’t cool your home better. What it does is cool your home using less energy. However, the AC with the higher SEER will cost you more initially than the one with the lower SEER. As a homeowner, what you need to do is figure out which SEER saves you energy but doesn’t break the bank for installation.
If you need help deciphering the high efficiency information for your air conditioning system in Orlando, FL, call Downtown Air & Heat today!
