The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to search for a system that provides superior comfort in your Tucson home while still remaining energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or looking to upgrade your existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to know that will help you during the process. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings indicate?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating takes into consideration the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Tucson. A higher SEER rating denotes a greater energy efficiency, which will convert into less expensive 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 humid, southern states. If your home has an mature unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see drastic energy savings after an upgrade.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it keeps track of the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel consumed. You can look at 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 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 is used to measure the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only determines your unit’s heating efficiency. Similarly, the larger the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
A&M Heating & Cooling LLC in Tucson offers equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be more than willing to help you better understand to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 520-200-1048 to arrange for an appointment with us.