Understanding HVAC Efficiency Ratings (SEER and Beyond)
When replacing the HVAC system in your Anaheim, CA home, you’ll notice that all heating and cooling equipment comes with efficiency ratings. For HVAC manufacturers, these ratings establish baselines for efficiency. They also help homeowners make informed purchasing decisions.
What HVAC Efficiency Ratings Are and Why They Matter
Efficiency ratings compare heating or cooling output to the amount of energy that HVAC systems use during operation. Before HVAC manufacturers bring their products to market, they must subject them to rigorous testing. This testing verifies adherence to minimum standards.
Given the vast differences in regional climates throughout the nation, regulators set minimum efficiency standards on a regional basis. Thus, minimum efficiency ratings for products sold in Anaheim can vastly differ from those for cold-weather areas in the northern parts of the country.
Which Agencies Regulate Efficiency Ratings?
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) establishes HVAC efficiency standards. The DOE also designs and implements efficiency testing. In partnership with the DOE, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) promotes high-efficiency products, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ensures that consumers have access to accurate and easy-to-understand labeling.
Why Efficiency Ratings Matter
Throughout the nation, HVAC use accounts for 50% of annual energy consumption for the average household. Whether you aim to lower your carbon footprint or maintain manageable energy bills, shopping for HVAC equipment based on efficiency ratings will help you meet your goals.
Efficiency ratings also hold HVAC manufacturers accountable for the impact that their products have on the environment. The implementation of efficiency standards has driven the innovation, production, and adoption of energy-efficient HVAC technologies.
SEER1 and SEER2 Ratings
When shopping for a new air conditioner or heat pump, you’ll see SEER1 and SEER2 ratings. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings compare cooling output and energy input over the course of a complete cooling season. To determine the SEER rating of any AC or heat pump, regulators divide cooling output by energy consumed. The federal minimum SEER1 and SEER2 ratings for Anaheim are 14.3 and 15, respectively.
You won’t find a new air conditioner for sale in Anaheim with a SEER2 rating of less than 15. These ratings are the baseline for efficiency. You’ll get far greater efficiency from models with SEER2 ratings of 16 or higher.
What’s the Difference Between SEER1 and SEER2 Ratings
In 2023, the DOE upgraded its SEER testing procedure for enhanced accuracy. SEER1 testing compared cooling output to energy consumed in a controlled environment dissimilar to the conditions of actual AC use. In comparison, SEER2 testing incorporates M1 blower motors that account for the static pressure in ducted HVAC systems. SEER2 offers more reliable insight into how efficiently air conditioners perform in real-world settings.
HSPF and HSPF2 Ratings
As dual-function appliances that offer heating and cooling, heat pumps have both SEER ratings and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings. While SEER ratings determine how efficiently heat pumps cool, HSPF ratings determine how efficiently they heat. HSPF ratings compare heating output in British Thermal Units (BTUs) to the amount of energy consumed throughout a complete heating season.
As with SEER2 ratings, HSPF2 ratings more accurately express efficiency by accounting for static pressure and other factors that exist in ducted HVAC systems. HSPF2 testing incorporates the use of M1 blower motors, while HSPF1 testing does not. The minimum HSPF2 rating for Anaheim is 9. A heat pump with an HSPF2 rating of 10 or higher will offer excellent energy efficiency and performance.
AFUE Ratings
Furnaces have Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. Expressed as a percentage, an AFUE rating will tell you how much of the fuel that a furnace consumes is converted into usable heat energy. For instance, a furnace with an AFUE rating of 95% will convert 95% of the fuel that it consumes into heat energy. The remaining 5% is lost as exhaust gases.
Electric furnaces convert 100% of the electricity they use into heat energy for AFUE ratings of 100%. High-efficiency gas furnaces can convert as much as 98.5% of the fuel they use into usable heat energy for AFUE ratings of 98.5%. In Anaheim, the minimum AFUE rating for a gas furnace is 81%.
Contact Your Local HVAC Experts
At Alps Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., we have been proudly serving homeowners since 1993. We can help with your heating and cooling needs, including HVAC installation, maintenance, and repairs. If you have questions about efficiency ratings or need HVAC service in Anaheim, contact us today!