How much you spend to cool your home is directly related to the performance and efficiency of your air conditioning system.
The performance of the cooling and heating system is determined in a large part by the HVAC equipment’s operating efficiency. One of the most common mistakes we correct is people buying too large of a unit for their homes.
It is important to understand the importance of a properly “matched system”. That is when an outdoor compressor bearing unit matches with an indoor unit. When all components are properly matched and sized to your home requirements. Once this type of HVAC system is achieved all parts should perform as designed.
Each “matched system” is tested and awarded a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (also know as SEER), sort of like a miles per gallon (mpg) rating for your car. You may have noticed the big Yellow sticker on many new appliances today.
The more cooling and heating a system puts out for each unit of energy it consumes, the higher SEER rating it will receive. The higher the efficiency rating of your system, the less energy it will consume – that means lower utility bills and less of an impact on the environment.
It is important to note that many utility companies will often compensate homeowners to the tune of hundreds of dollars to install high-efficiency systems.
See the FPL Chart below to confirm what rebates are available to you when you install a high efficiency air conditioning system.
SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
Higher the SEER ratings mean greater efficiency and usually less AC Repair. As of January 2006, the federal government mandates that all new central air conditioning equipment be at least SEER-13, but there is equipment available rated as high as SEER-18 and even SEER-23!
A homeowner in Florida who installs an 16 SEER air conditioner system can save $2,070.00* in operating costs over the lifespan of their system and will prevent nearly 30,000 pounds of Green House Gases from being released into the atmosphere, the equivalent of removing 3 cars from the road each year or planting 4 acres of forest.
*Assumes 2,985 cooling hours, a 16 SEER 3 ton versus a 13 SEER 3 ton unit, electricity cost of $0.1113/kWh, & an operating life of 12 years.
Use the FPL “Annual cooling cost comparison” chart below to see the impact on your wallet.
