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The New SEER Score Methodology for 2023
SEER, or Seasonal Vitality Effectivity Ratio, measures the vitality effectivity of air conditioners and warmth pumps. As of January 1st, 2023, HVAC effectivity requirements have been up to date, with the Division of Vitality assigning new minimal SEER scores for HVAC items and a revised methodology of measuring vitality effectivity. These modifications will assist to scale back vitality consumption, decrease vitality payments, and reduce environmental influence. These modifications are nice information for householders who need to get monetary savings on vitality payments and cut back their carbon footprint.
By putting in the next SEER-rated HVAC system, householders can save 20% or extra on their vitality payments in comparison with programs with decrease SEER scores. And with incentives and rebates accessible for energy-efficient HVAC installations, the price of upgrading to a system with the next SEER ranking system may be offset, making it an much more engaging possibility for householders.
HVAC firms within the Better Kansas Metropolis space, akin to Polestar Plumbing, are a trusted useful resource for householders as they navigate these new rules and look to buy an energy-efficient air con system!
What’s a SEER Score?
It’s exhausting to debate SEER scores with out first defining what a SEER ranking is.
Central air conditioners and warmth pumps are examined in a managed setting to determine the quantity of vitality that’s used to successfully cool an area. Prior to now, EER, or vitality effectivity ratio, was the usual for testing the vitality effectivity of a central HVAC system. EER evaluates the wattage utilized by the unit to chill an area in a set setting. Lately, the Division of Vitality discovered that the system wasn’t adequate in evaluating how a central air con unit performs over the cooling season.
The SEER ranking system takes seasonality into consideration, fairly than being examined in a static setting, air con programs are rated over quite a lot of completely different temperatures to higher mimic modifications in warmth ranges all through a cooling season. Nonetheless, the Division of Vitality discovered that even this testing didn’t finest characterize the real-world vitality consumption of an air con system, and added testing strategies to simulate the stress modifications that happen when blowing air by ductwork. This up to date examined methodology has been named SEER2.
Dividing america into three areas (North, South, and Southwest) to account for regional local weather variations, the Division of Vitality has set completely different minimal SEER necessities for every area. These modifications influence what householders should buy and when and it’s advised that householders and enterprise house owners verify with a trusted native HVAC set up specialist in Kansas Metropolis when buying a brand new unit.
Kansas lies within the area that the federal government has designated to be the “Northern States” and there are fewer restrictions on minimal vitality effectivity ranges for warmth pumps and air conditioners, as there’s much less total AC utilization in cooler climates. Producers should now produce air con and warmth pump programs that fall throughout the up to date minimal necessities, 14 and 13.8 respectively. Items which have already been manufactured can nonetheless be bought and put in in houses by a licensed HVAC contractor.
In Southern areas, all newly put in air con or warmth pump programs have to be rated on the new minimums, 15 SEER and 14.3 SEER respectively. Warmth pumps and air conditioners which might be rated under the brand new minimums will not be bought nor put in in states within the Southern area.
Vitality-Environment friendly Air Conditioners
There are lots of advantages to picking an energy-efficient air conditioner to your house or enterprise – decreased vitality prices, extra dependable cooling, and so they’re additionally higher for the setting. Improvements in air con know-how, akin to variable-speed compressors, superior warmth exchangers, and sensible thermostats, have led to the event of programs with increased Seasonal Vitality Effectivity Ratio (SEER) scores.
Previous to January 1st of 2023, air conditioners bought and put in in america needed to have a minimal SEER ranking of 13 or 14 SEER, relying on the area. With the brand new laws, the minimums have elevated to 14 and 15 SEER2. Some newly manufactured energy-efficient air conditioners, together with these with an ENERGY STAR designation, could have a SEER2 ranking upwards of 20, and are thought of extremely vitality environment friendly. It’s estimated that air conditioners with a SEER2 ranking of 25 can save householders as much as 50% on vitality prices.
Window items, as a result of they’re moveable and never related to a central heating or cooling system, are nonetheless rated utilizing the EER ranking methodology. There are many energy-efficient wall or window air con items accessible, however in the event you’re enthusiastic about conserving your house at a constant temperature and having a extra exact measurement of vitality effectivity, it’s finest to seek the advice of with an area HVAC contractor in Kansas Metropolis to find out how a central air con system will carry out in your house or workspace.
Vitality-Environment friendly Warmth Pumps
Much like central air con programs, centralized warmth pumps and ductless mini-split programs are topic to the brand new 2023 HVAC effectivity requirements. Producers should use the brand new testing methodology and replace labeling, and retailers and installers should abide by the regional rules when promoting or putting in new items.
Moreover, heating items are topic to HSPF2 scores, which stands for Heating Seasonal Efficiency Issue. With these 2023 SEER ranking and HSPF modifications, these seeking to buy a brand new energy-efficient HVAC system ought to seek the advice of an area heating and cooling specialist to make sure they’re selecting a unit that meets minimal scores and offers the vitality financial savings they’re in search of.
The Advantages of Vitality-Environment friendly HVAC Techniques
An energy-efficient HVAC system equals vitality financial savings, leading to decrease utility payments, much less reliance on fossil fuels, and programs which might be kinder to the setting. With an easy-to-read numerical measurement system, the SEER ranking listed on HVAC items helps to tell consumers of the extent of vitality effectivity that an air conditioner or warmth pump has. Householders may even use the SEER ranking to calculate precisely how a lot an air conditioner or warmth pump is costing them on their vitality invoice.
As well as, the US authorities, and plenty of state governments provide vital tax financial savings and incentives on newly put in energy-efficient air conditioners and heating items, permitting householders to avoid wasting hundreds of {dollars}.
It can be crucial, nevertheless, to know that the SEER2 ranking doesn’t let you know all the pieces about how vitality environment friendly an air conditioner can be when put in in your house. The sq. footage of your house, the age of your house, the standard of your house’s insulation, and the local weather that you simply stay in all issue into how a lot you’ll profit from a highly-rated SEER2 air conditioner.
To dive deeper into how the SEER ranking works and to be taught the way it will influence you as you search for a brand new SEER-rated HVAC unit, you possibly can be taught extra right here – or attain out to the specialists at Polestar Plumbing who can information you in precisely how to decide on probably the most energy-efficient HVAC unit to your house or enterprise!
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