Energy efficiency is a hot topic today and Audubon Cesco has options for systems with various efficiency levels. The question for you comes down to your current budget and needs: Should you spend more now for a higher efficiency system and save money in gas and electricity for as long as you own the system? Or do you need to pay less now for medium a efficiency system, and pay more for the energy it uses over time? Our team of experts are here to help you weigh the pros & cons and help you make the best decision for you.
With the constantly rising cost of fuel, a good Heating and Air Conditioning system often pays for itself in a relatively short amount of time. At Audubon Cesco, we install and service a number of different brands of heating and cooling equipment at price points that meet your budget and fill your needs. Call Audubon Cesco!!
What is EER?
EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. It is the efficiency you can expect from the air conditioner at the peak cooling time because it is measured at only one temperature (highest typical outdoor temperature, usually 95 degrees). The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner.
What is SEER?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. SEER is an average. When it comes to Central Air Conditioning, this the the rating that you should be considering. It takes into account the highs and lows of a typical home’s cooling pattern. Rather than measuring the energy efficiency of an air conditioner at one operating temperature, SEER is the calculation of how energy efficient the air conditioner is during the cooling season at varying temperatures. The US government requires that residential systems manufactured after 2005 have a minimum SEER rating of 13 with the exception of window air conditioning units. There is a benefit to upgrading from an older, less efficient model to a higher SEER model. For example going from a 9 SEER to a 13 SEER unit, electric consumption can be reduced by approximately 30%.
What is AFUE?
AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The AFUE range for furnaces is very broad. There are gas and oil units that are 80% efficient at using their fuel, and there are natural gas furnaces that are over 97% efficient in using their fuel. Imagine the amount you would save on your heating costs if you were using a higher efficiency unit. Most older homes have a 80% AFUE furnaces and upgrading to a 97% AFUE furnace could reduce heating costs by 15%. For example, a 90% AFUE for a gas furnace means it outputs 90 BTU’s of useful heating to the home for every 100 BTU’s of gas/oil input (the rest will be wasted heat going out the exhaust). A higher AFUE means higher efficiency.
Note: The Heating and Air Conditioning manufacturing industry is on notice that at some point the standards on gas furnace efficiency will rise. It is working with the Department of Energy on a time frame that makes sense for manufacturers. It’s likely that they will scale back production and phase out of 80% AFUE gas furnaces, to start building more furnaces with a higher efficiency rating.
What is HSPF?
HSPF stands for Heat Seasonal Performance Factor. It is most commonly used to measure a heat pumps heating efficiency. The higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heat pump. In technical term, HSPF represents the total heating output of a heat pump (including supplementary electric heat) during the normal heating season (in Btu) as compared to the total electricity consumed during the same period.
