What energy efficiency ratings mean and why they're important

January 10, 2017

The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to look for a system that provides quality comfort in your Macon home while still being energy efficient. Greater energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are thinking about a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your current equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?

SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the competence of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in Macon. A greater SEER rating denotes a larger energy efficiency, which will convert into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy demands a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see extreme energy savings after an improvement.

AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it finds the percentage of heat generated for every dollar of fuel used. You can think of it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the lower your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that signifies that 80% of the heat generated is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is wasted through venting.

HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and operates to determine the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only measures your unit’s heating productivity. Like the others, the larger the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.

Air Temperature Control in Macon offers equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are unsure what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better comprehend to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 478-202-3170 to schedule an appointment with us.