What energy efficiency ratings mean and why they’re important

The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s crucial to look for a system that delivers excellent comfort in your Abilene home while still remaining energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are considering a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your present 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 mean?

SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)

SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in Abilene. A greater SEER rating denotes a larger energy efficiency, which will translate into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for humid, southern states. If your home has an older 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 produced for every dollar of fuel expended. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The larger the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat produced is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.

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

Abilene Air-Tech Inc in Abilene offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be more than willing to help you better comprehend to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at (325) 692-5850 to schedule an appointment with us.