Facts About SEER And EER (Energy Efficiency Rating)
EER, energy efficiency rating, is a measure of an air conditioner's
efficiency and energy consumption. The higher the
rating, the more efficient the unit and the less power consumed. Every air conditioning unit is
assigned with an efficiency rating known as its “seasonal energy efficiency ratio”
(SEER). The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal
units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided
by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.
Good for the environment
As of 2000, the new EER standard reduced
U.S. carbon emissions from fossil fuel consumption by nearly 2%. National Laboratory research indicates that the benefit energy savings are more
than 3 times the cost. In 2000, standards
reduced the peak generating needs by approximately 21,000 megawatts, which
is the same as seventy 300 MW power plants! Currently, the debate concerning appliance efficiency
standards has revolved around the Bush Administration’s proposal to weaken the
standard for air conditioners from the SEER 13 standard set by the Clinton
Administration to a SEER 12.
Not all portable air conditioners are created equal
However, not all portable air
conditioners are equal if you only consider EER ratings. For instance,
some portable 12,000 BTU units have an EER rating of 12.6 compared to 12,000 BTU window unit such as the GE Deluxe AGM12AB with a 10.8 EER rating.
The fact is: window units have higher EER
ratings compared to portable units because the window unit and compressor is
located outside the window which does not induce additional heat back into the
room compared to portable air conditioners.
Since EER ratings are not consistent with many AC manufacturers, we prefer to
compare portable air conditioners by the amount of watts consumed which gives a
more
accurate indication of compressor size and power utilization. That is why
some 12,000 BTU units can only support up to 350 square feet while other 12,000
BTU units like the Sharp CVP12LX or
the Alen™ C535 can
cover a larger area over 470 to 535 square feet. We also prefer to compare units
by the cooling cost per square foot.
Air conditioners generally range from 5,500
Btu per hour to 14,000 Btu per hour. National appliance standards require room
air conditioners built after January 1, 1990, to have an EER of 8.0 or greater.
Select a room air conditioner with an EER of at least 10.0 if you live in a mild
climate. If you have a portable air conditioner, select a unit with an EER of
9 or higher.
To calculate for EER, take the BTU divide by the number of watts consumed
by the unit. So for a 12,000 BTU unit that consumes 1200 watts, the EER is
a 10.
Why is air conditioner efficiency currently an issue?
After finalizing a seven-year public review process, the Clinton
Administration improved the air conditioner efficiency standard from SEER 10,
which was established by Congress in 1987, to SEER 13. The change from SEER 10
to SEER 13 represented a 30 % improvement in energy efficiency. The
Clinton Administration decision required all new air conditioning equipment sold
in the United States to comply with the SEER 13 standard by January 2006.
What is the value with a higher EER?
A SEER 13 standard will also accomplish more in reducing fossil fuel
consumption and limiting air pollution. According to EPA, a SEER 13 standard represents a
30 percent increase
in minimum energy efficiency requirements for air conditioners, in contrast to a
20 percent increase with a SEER 12 standard. According to DOE, 4.2 quadrillion
Btu, or quads of energy, will be saved between 2006 and 2030 by a SEER 13
standard. 4.2 quads of energy is the equivalent to the annual energy use of 26
million U.S. households, which has a net savings of approximately $1 billion to
the consumer by 2020.
· The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that
the incremental cost of a SEER 13 unit relative to today’s minimum standard SEER
10 unit will be about $171. With typical household savings of $48 per year based
on current national average electricity prices, the higher standard pays for
itself in about 3.5 years. Central air conditioners last about 18 years.
· Since prices for power go up during the summer, the consumer
payback will be even quicker.
FACT: SEER 13 adds three to eight percent to the cost of a purchase relative
to a SEER 10 unit. When compared to the weaker SEER 12 standard that some in the
industry and the Bush Administration support, the price difference is even
smaller (about 2 to 4 percent). It would seem unlikely that droves of consumers
will decide to repair rather than replace an old broken-down energy-hog system
over such a small price differential on a $2,000 to $5,000 purchase.
For Additional Information on Portable Air Conditioners:
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