What energy efficiency ratings mean and why they’re important01/10/2017 More than half of your utility bills in the Midlands consist of cost to heat and cool your home. To save as much money as you can, you should find a system that can supply home comfort as efficiently as possible. The better your system’s energy efficiency, the more your system is doing while using less energy. If you’re ready to upgrade or replace your HVAC equipment, you should understand a few terms and ratings to be fully informed and get the best energy efficiency possible. SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency) The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, rating measures the cooling efficiency of your equipment at varying temperatures. Higher SEER ratings denote better energy efficiency, and therefore, lower utility bills. For cooler northern states, The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER rating. Warmer, southern states must must have a SEER rating of 14 or higher. If your unit has a poor SEER-rating, an upgrade could bring you a valuable spike in energy savings. AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric) Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratio shows the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel consumed—similar the miles per gallon you get from your car. Higher AFUE ratings translate into lower energy costs. So, an AFUE rating of 80 means that 80% of the heat generated by your furnace is heating your home, and 20% of the heat is escaping through venting. The Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) measures the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is essentially the SEER rating for winter because it measures only heating efficiency. Like the other ratings, higher numbers indicate better energy efficiency. At Alltemp Comfort Services LLC, you’ll find equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. We can help you verify the energy efficiency of your present equipment and help you find ways to improve on it and save money—whether with continued maintenance or with brand new, more efficient equipment. Just call us at 803-220-0753 or schedule an appointment with us online.
With more than 100 years in the field, Lennox has continuously offered industry-leading innovation and technology while preserving stringent durability and reliability standards. The experts at Alltemp Comfort Services LLC help bring those standards to the Midlands so that you can always experience total home comfort. If you’re looking for a new HVAC system or even if you just have a question about what we can provide, give us a call at 803-220-0753 or set up an appointment with us online. We’d love to hear from you.