When a homeowner’s deciding on an HVAC system, one of the primary considerations should be energy efficiency. The more energy efficient the system, the more money you’ll save in the long run and the better your system will perform for both you and the environment.
Different HVAC systems use different ratings systems with greatly varying scales. When deciding on an HVAC system, it’s important to know how to read them to understand just how efficiently a system will operate. Following are four of the m
ain ratings systems used for HVAC equipment today:
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
SEER is a seasonal rating that applies to central air conditioners and heat pumps. It is calculated by dividing the cooling output by the energy consumed during the cooling season, which is typically summer when the weather is hottest. All systems must carry a minimum SEER rating of 13, and Energy Star-qualified systems will have a minimum rating of 14. The higher the number, the more efficient the system.
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
The EER rating is similar to SEER except that it applies to room air conditioners in addition to central air conditioners. Unlike SEER, it is a measure of instantaneous efficiency. You should look for a rating of 10 or higher.
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF)
The HSPF rating applies to heat pumps and measures the heating efficiency of the system (as opposed to SEER, which measures its cooling efficiency). It is calculated by dividing the heating output by the energy consumed during the heating season. HSPF ratings should start at 7.7, and higher values than this indicate better efficiency.
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE)
AFUE ratings apply to furnaces and boilers. AFUE is calculated based on the amount of fuel converted to heat for your home. Unlike the other ratings, AFUE is measured in percentages, with 75 percent being the required minimum. Again, higher numbers indicate greater efficiency, and high-efficiency, condensing furnaces start at 90 percent.
At Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning, we have provided professional and quality HVAC services to the Twin Cities metro area since 1974. Don’t hesitate to contact us for expert advice when deciding on an HVAC system for your home.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC System and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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