Shopping for new central air conditioning systems today can be intimidating if you don’t understand all the U. S. Government environmental ratings found on the units’ labels. Just what exactly is an EER? What does SEER mean and why do you need to know about it? You actually may relax, for their meanings are simple and offer you important information on the energy efficiency of each type of AC unit you are considering for purchase. In fact, the information the EER and SEER ratings provide will help you make a more informed selection.
One of the first attempts to standardize how to calculate the energy efficiency of an air conditioning unit was the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER. The EER is calculated by dividing the electrical power input in watts by the amount of cooling that is created in BTUs (or British Thermal Units) under a single and simple set of conditions. The conditions used for calculating the EER are an indoor temperature of 80°F and an outdoor temperature of 95°F with humidity at 50 percent. Soon, however, the Energy Department realized that they would also need to find a way to measure energy efficiency through varying temperature conditions.
The SEER was then developed and today the only rating the U.S. Government mandates be displayed on AC units for sale. The difference between the EER and the SEER is the all-important S, which represents seasonal. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratings calculate how energy efficient the air conditioning unit is during a cooling season of fluctuating temperatures. The SEER basically measures how the EER is affected by differences in temperatures. The SEER is a benchmark of the necessary amount of electricity any given AC unit uses to produce each BTU of cooling power when compared to any other unit under a fixed, standard set of conditions generated for the rating process. SEER is calculated using a range of outside temperature from 68°F to 104°F instead of a fixed temperature.
Which rating means the most? Only the SEER is mandated to be on all units so some only have the SEER on them. Units that have both may be interpreted this way. The EER lets you know what kind of efficiency you can expect from the unit at mid-summer’s peak cooling time. SEER is its average efficiency at all times. The most important thing to remember is to always compare units the same way: either EER to EER ratings or SEER to SEER. Call us today to learn more about efficient heating and air conditioning options in your area, particularly if your unit is ten years old or older.
