The U.S. Department of Energy and the HVAC industry have a number of ratings to measure the energy efficiency of various air comfort products. For example, gas furnaces are rated according to Coefficient of Performance, or COP. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, is used in relation to air-source heat pumps and air conditioners. It’s one of the most important considerations when it comes to choosing a new air conditioner of air-source heat pump for your home.
Roughly speaking, SEER is an estimate of how energy efficient a given HVAC machine will be when it comes to keeping an environment cool during hot summer weather. A higher SEER rating indicates higher energy efficiency and a lower rating less. The more energy efficient a given system is, then the less power the heat pump or air conditioner will require. That can equal real monetary value, especially when it comes to frequently rising energy costs.
Today, every new residential heat pump and air conditioner must meet specific U.S. DOE guidelines. 13 SEER performance is the minimum any new system can have. 13 SEER is not a bad rating and much better at maximizing power consumption than previous generation systems. The very best rated air conditioners and heat pumps can reach 18 SEER or higher, but, of course, a higher SEER rating requires better components which means higher upfront costs. In some regions, the extra money will be worth it when the energy savings over time are properly calculated.