Heating and cooling units are standard features in almost every building in the US. However, these units play some part in the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere every year. Since it is impossible to live in houses that do not have HVAC units especially in winter, an effective way of reducing greenhouse gases emissions is by measuring their efficiency. Read on to learn more about this topic.
Why Efficiency Measurements Matter
In general, the more efficient a cooling/heating unit, the smaller its carbon footprint because it requires less energy to operate. Remember fuels like natural gas play a big role in release of greenhouse gases. To curb this problem, the Department of Energy has set efficiency standards governing HVAC products. With this in mind, here is how efficiency ratings are measured.
The Energy Star
For a product to bear the Energy Star designation, it must satisfy stringent guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For example, a heating/cooling unit’s energy savings and performance should be verifiable via scientifically acceptable measuring techniques. Moreover, consumers should be able to recoup price difference between such units and less energy efficient units via energy bill savings within reasonable timeframe.
EER
EER or Energy Efficiency Ratio shows how much cooling efficiency one can expect per dollar spent on energy bills. This efficiency ratio is based on hottest seasonal day of year.
SEER
Unlike EER, SEER is based on average cooling efficiency over an entire season per dollar spent on electricity. This rating ranges from 13 to 22 with higher figures indicating better efficiency.
HSPF
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor simply shows the efficiency of a heating component in a heat pump. A rating to between 6.8 and 10 generally offers good efficiency.
MERV
Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value shows HVAC unit efficiency in terms of filter size holes. Smaller holes make a filter more efficient at keeping contaminants from making their way indoors. MERV ratings range from 1-16 with higher figures indicating better efficiency.
Conclusion
If you have a heating/cooling unit at home, a good grasp of its efficiency rating is important to ensure it does not generate huge amounts of greenhouse gases. Common efficiency measurement benchmarks include Energy Star, SEER, EER, MERV, and HSPF. Follow Our Blog for More Great HVAC Information.
