Standards Raised for A/C Efficiency
01/23/2006

This month, the government significantly raised energy efficiency standards for air conditioners. And a recent survey indicates 90 percent of homeowners know nothing about it.

The 2005 Home Air Conditioning Test by Emerson, an air-conditioning manufacturer, also said only one out of 10 homeowners knows the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of the family’s air conditioner.

The SEER tells you how energy efficient your air conditioner is. The SEER rating is determined by dividing the air conditioner’s total cooling output by the amount of energy it uses. The Department of Energy’s new energy-efficiency standards mandate that all air conditioners manufactured after January 23 must meet a minimum rating of 13 SEER, up 30 percent from the previous 10 SEER standard.

Some manufacturers are targeting the compressor—which pumps refrigerant through the system— when making improvements, resulting in quieter, lighter and smaller systems.

For homeowners, this means that purchasing a new air conditioner this spring could reduce energy bills.

Kentucky Association of Electric Cooperatives, Inc. 4515 Bishop Lane * Louisville, KY  40218 502-451-2430 * FAX: 502-459-3209 Terms of Use