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If your home needs a new AC system, choosing the right one is vital. Our HVAC experts can determine the exact capacity you need, but that’s not the only consideration. You must also decide how efficient you’d like your new AC to be. To do that, you’ll need to know how manufacturers note the efficiency of each model. They do it using a rating system called SEER2. Here’s everything you need to know about the SEER2 system so you can use it to help choose the right AC for your home.
What Is SEER2?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio; it was updated to SEER2 as of Jan. 1, 2023. It is a rating scale designed to inform AC buyers about the efficiency of a given air conditioner during an average cooling season. The system assigns a numerical score to each AC after it undergoes standardized testing. The simplest way to understand SEER2 ratings is that the higher the rating, the more efficient the appliance.
Regulators at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) also utilize the SEER2 system to establish and enforce minimum AC efficiency standards. Currently, for example, you cannot purchase a new central AC in El Centro, CA, with a SEER2 rating lower than 15. Periodically, the DOE revisits SEER2 minimums and revises them upward.
How Is SEER2 Calculated?
SEER2 ratings begin with a test conducted in a laboratory environment. The testing procedure measures the energy consumption of a given AC under strict environmental controls. One is that the unit performs indoors at 80 degrees Fahrenheit and 50% relative humidity. It also includes a simulated outdoor environment of 82 degrees Fahrenheit with 39% relative humidity.
To maintain a steady indoor temperature, the simulated indoor environment features a heating system. Importantly, the heater’s output will always match the BTU output of the AC undergoing testing. That guarantees that the AC must operate at maximum cooling capacity throughout the process. Additionally, an AC undergoing testing must operate under the above conditions for at least one hour.
An hour of testing yields the exact amount of electricity the AC uses at maximum output per hour. Dividing the system’s BTU output by the watt-hours used in an hour of testing produces a result called an EER value. It stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. EER is the basis for the formula that yields a SEER2 rating.
The actual formula for a SEER2 rating is a bit too complex to detail here. However, it roughly simulates how your home might use a given AC during an average cooling season. It approximates the following:
- 1% of the season at 100% output
- 42% of the season at 75% output
- 45% of the season at 50% output
- 12% of the season at 25% output
Plugging an AC’s EER value into the formula yields the numerical value that becomes the unit’s SEER2 rating.
Comparing ACs Using SEER2
Knowing how manufacturers assign SEER2 ratings is beneficial, but it doesn’t necessarily explain how to utilize the rating system effectively. As previously mentioned, the higher the SEER2 rating, the more efficient the AC. Unfortunately, the SEER2 system isn’t a linear scale. In other words, efficiency differences between each rating point decline as the values increase. That can make it somewhat hard to decide if a given air conditioner’s price is worth it compared to a less efficient AC.
The good news is that there is a way to compare SEER2 ratings directly to determine the actual difference in efficiency. It only works, however, when you’re comparing two systems with identical BTU output. For central ACs, that means comparing two systems of equal tonnage.
The actual formula is quite simple. You start by dividing the higher SEER2 of the two ACs by the lower one. Then, subtract 1 from the result. That should leave you with a decimal value. By multiplying that decimal by 100, you will get the efficiency difference as a percentage between the two ACs. Knowing that can help you estimate how much energy a higher-efficiency AC might save you during its lifespan. You may find that paying more for a higher-SEER2 AC won’t pay you back in energy savings as quickly as you thought.
Local AC Efficiency Experts
Regardless of the AC system you ultimately choose, an expert will need to install it. Arctic Air Conditioning & Heating offers high-quality AC installation services in El Centro as well as repair, maintenance, inspections, and air duct services. We also sell a complete line of air conditioners from Carrier, a leader in the industry. We offer financing options on approved credit, too.
When the time comes for an AC replacement for your El Centro home, call Arctic Air Conditioning & Heating!
