Air Conditioner SEER Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio

Energy consumption for home air conditioning accounts for almost 5% of all the electricity produced in the USA. Energy Policy Act mandates minimum energy efficiency standards for commercial buildings, using research and standards developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers. Energy Star qualified central air conditioners have a higher seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) than standard models, which makes them about 14% more efficient than standard models. Energy efficiency specialists with certified training on retrofits and energy savings on both residential and light commercial units may enable you to save up to 50 percent on your air conditioning bills with the use of a high efficiency energy system. Substantial energy savings can be obtained from more efficient systems.

SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is related to the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the ratio of output cooling in Btu/Hr and the input power in watts W at a given operating point and also to the coefficient of performance (COP) commonly used in thermodynamics. SEER rating more accurately reflects overall system efficiency on a seasonal basis and EER reflects the system’s energy efficiency at peak day operations.

The SEER rating is the Btu of cooling output during a typical cooling-season divided by the total electric energy input in watt-hours during the same period. SEER is related to the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is the ratio of output cooling in Btu/Hr and the input power in watts W at a given operating point and also to the coefficient of performance (COP) commonly used in thermodynamics. SEER rating more accurately reflects overall system efficiency on a seasonal basis and EER reflects the system’s energy efficiency at peak day operations. The higher the SEER number, the greater the efficiency of your unit. Therefore you will realize greater energy savings. The higher efficiency your product, the lower your long-term energy costs will be. Both central AC and air source heat pumps are rated according to seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER).

Before you consider upgrading your cooling equipment, the cheapest way to save money and energy from cooling is to reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning in the first place. Ask your contractor about a variable speed air handler, which will improve comfort and efficiency and allow continuous air filtering at minimum energy cost. Also, because ducts are often responsible for a lot of wasted energy, make sure you hire a contractor who knows about high-efficiency installations. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.