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Material World - HVAC Update
 The air
conditioned winds of change are blowing as federal legislation changes have
pushed HVAC manufacturers to increase the efficiency of their central air
conditioner units. The efficiency of central air conditioner units is called
the SEER rating, which stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. The SEER
is a measurement of the average efficiency of the unit over a full cooling
season; the higher the number, the more efficient the unit.
Most units averaged a SEER rating of 10, but the National Appliance Energy
Conservation Act (NAECA) from the Department of Energy mandates that a
minimum of a 13 SEER rating applies to conventional central air conditioners
and central air conditioning heat pumps manufactured on or after January 23,
2006. Manufacturers are able to sell equipment with a lower SEER rating
until their supplies are depleted. Replacement parts and services are still
available to maintain current home air conditioners that have less than a 13
SEER. This mandate supersedes any state or local building/energy codes.
The obvious goal of increasing the SEER rating is to help reduce the energy
that the United States consumes. How much of an effect can this regulation
be expected to have? The 13 SEER standard is expected to save the nation 4.2
quads (quadrillion British Thermal Units) of energy over 25 years (2006
through 2030). This is equivalent to the energy consumed by nearly 26
million American households in one year. In dollars and cents, the 13 SEER
standards are expected to save consumers $1 billion over the same period.
The new standard does not require consumers to make any immediate change to
their cooling systems. New home builders can continue to install the lower
rated equipment as long as that equipment is available, but the new units
manufactured after January 23 are 30% more efficient than those rated at 10
SEER. Depending on calculations, a new 13 SEER rated unit can cost an
average of $170 extra, but the corresponding reduction in energy costs
allows the consumer to pay for this extra initial cost within a few years or
less.
To read more about the new changes, please visit the following link:
Department of Energy
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