To some of us air conditioning terms more resemble a foreign language than English. One of the terms is SEER or the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Primarily a marketing gimmick, the SEER is rated at 830F and any SEER rating is the highest operating rating at the above temperature. The SEER rating is dismissive of location, as there is considerable difference between Boise, Idaho and Phoenix, Arizona. The SEER is an across the board rating and does not take into consideration local conditions. A SEER rating in norther California verses the recent 118-degree temperatures in Pheonix, a 13 SEER AC would be rated at SEER 6. However, though a SEER rating is not actually a higher SEER will serve better in the southwest US versus a lower rating.

Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) Formula

An EER is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, a represents an engineering standard versus the marking SEER standard. The EER rating is calculated for a constant 95 degrees and a 50% humidity. No seasonal changes are factored in the EER rating. EER = COP x 3.41

Coefficient of Performance (COP) Example

The COP is the Coefficient of Performance and is a dimensionless ratio as COP = Power Output(cooling)/Power Input (Wh). An AC’s job is to move heat from one point to another, usually from indoors to the outdoors. COP is a thermodynamic based ratio and is a technical rating. COP ratings range from 2-4 typically, about a tenth of theoretical maximum.

Ton of Refrigeration

TONs (refrigeration tons or RT) equals about 12,000 British Thermal Units (BTUs) per hour or 3.5 kilo Watts (kW.) The BTU is a traditional unit of heat, and is the amount of heat used to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water one-degree Fahrenheit. A BTU therefore = 0.293-Watt hours, or a 100 BTUs equal 29.3 Wh, or 1055.056 joules. A 150-sq. ft. room with require about 5,500 BTU nominal and climbs o 9,000 BTUs for a kitchen. BTU is a rating normally associated with single room or window style AC units. Larger centralized AC units are size rated by Refrigeration TONs. These are not efficiency ratings but sizing ratings.

HVAC Energy Efficiency

Split units, outside ground mounted compressor and attic mounted air handles are a mainstay in the southwestern and southeastern US. To achieve the top SEER, EER or COP rating the two units must be balanced. ACs and heat pumps are efficiency rated by a ratio of work (cooling or heating) versus the power used. The higher the COP, EER or SEER rating the more efficient the unit. However, efficiency has its own price tag. In other words, efficiency costs. Higher the efficiency the more expensive the unit. Given that a unit’s life expectancy is about 15 years, you should be able recover the cost difference between the 13 SEER and 21 SEER unit in 10 years or less to make the high efficiency units costs to make economic sense. Your home air conditioner is the primary consumer of electrical power in a home, followed by the electric hot water heater and clothes dryer. So, it make sense to invest in more efficient AC unit, as long as the cost differences can be recouped before failure with savings in power consumption.

HVAC Installations, Replacements & More in Manhattan, Flushing, Queens, Brooklyn & The Bronx, New York

So, do your homework, study it out and then go for the unit you want sized to your needs and with an efficiency rating you can afford. Agape Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing can handle all your air conditioning and heating needs. Contact us today.