Home  Resources Tips & ArticlesHigh Efficiency Air Conditioners Drastically Reduce Energy Costs! Calculate How Much You Can Save by Upgrading to a New Energy-Efficient Cooling System We all love air conditioning in the summertime; except, of course, when we see our electric bill! The air conditioning systems we grew up with were extreme energy hogs…and we usually paid a price for the cool comfort they delivered. Fortunately, times have changed, and we can enjoy substantial energy savings by installing and using today’s more technically advanced and efficient cooling systems. The efficiency at which air conditioners produce cooling is refered to as its SEER rating. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and is a ratio of the amount of cooling produced (BTU) divided by the amount of electricity (watts) used. The higher the SEER, the greater the air conditioner’s efficiency. Older air conditioning systems have a SEER rating of 10 or under. Today’s more efficient air conditioning systems have SEER ratings as high as 23. 

The United States now requires that residential air conditioning systems manufactured after 2005 have a minimum SEER rating of 13 (window units are exempt from this law, so their SEERs are still around 10). The SEER rating is usually shown on a yellow and black EnergyGuide sticker attached to the outside unit of the air conditioner. How much energy and money can you save by upgrading from your old air conditioner to a modern, more efficient model?  Let’s suppose your older air conditioning system had a SEER rating of 9. If you were to upgrade to a SEER 13 air conditioner (the lowest efficiency available), you would reduce your power consumption by about 28%.  That can translate to energy savings up to $300 per year (depending on your usage rate and the cost of electricity). The Numbers Don’t Lie! The tables below will give you an estimate of the electricity you can save by upgrading to an air conditioning system with a higher SEER. Existing Air Conditioner Efficiency:

New Air Conditioner Efficiency Expected Reduction in Electricity How High a SEER Do You Need? Central air conditioners that are in the top 25 percent of efficient models may carry the Energy Star® label. To qualify, they must have a minimum SEER efficiency level of 14. So, does all this mean that you should get the air conditioner with the highest SEER possible? SEER ratings only represent the potential efficiency of the system under perfect conditions. Over half of the system’s efficiency depends on correct equipment sizing for your home and proper installation.  So while looking for an air conditioning system with the EnergyStar® label is certainly the right start, what you really want and need is the right sized equipment operating at its optimal ratings within varying conditions, for your optimal comfort and savings. Your Horizon Services comfort specialist will perform a thorough In-Home Energy Analyis to help you identify the most efficient system for your home, your needs and your budget…and see to it that they system is properly installed for optimal performance.

Schedule a FREE In-Home Energy Analysis! Learn More About Upgrading to an Energy Efficient Air Conditioner! Learn More About Our Air Conditioning Services! Horizon Services has been proudly meeting the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, drain cleaning and sewer & water line needs of businesses and homeowners in Delaware, Southeastern Pennsylvania and Maryland since 1989. Schedule an Appointment Online12000 btu split unit air conditioner pricesPeople choose super-efficient central air conditioners for one of two reasons or both:ac unit in garage sweating The most efficient central air conditioners of 2016 cost 20% to 100% more than less efficient units, depending on the SEER ratings of the air conditioners being compared.amana ptac hvac units

In the warmest climates, the higher cost of an efficient AC is typically recovered in one to three years. For example, if you’ve got a 10 SEER unit (it would have to be 15+ years old) and replace it with a 20 SEER air conditioner, you’ll cut your cooling costs by 50%. Replacing a 13 SEER model with a 20 SEER air conditioner will reduce costs by 35%. Note: SEER = Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, the rating of how efficient an air conditioner is over the course of an entire cooling season. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the unit is. These units are the most efficient residential split system air conditioners currently available. This is a variable-capacity air conditioner which means it adjusts the rate at which the compressor circulates refrigerant. The lowest capacity is 40%; the highest is 100%. The adjustments are made in increments of less than 1% to create extremely precise cooling with little noticeable temperature fluctuation. Variable-capacity ACs are also called modulating air conditioners, a different name for the technology.

They run near their low capacity most of the time to create longer cycles that cool the air more gently and remove more humidity which makes your home feel more comfortable at higher temperatures. The high SEER ratings for modulating air conditioners are the result of those longer cycles. A compressor cycling on and off frequently wastes a significant amount of energy and doesn’t create the same premium level of climate control. This is a variable-capacity unit like the Lennox XC25. It’s protected by one of the better warranties in the industry – 12 years on all parts plus entire air conditioner replacement if the compressor fails in that period. Maytag is a national brand. The same lineup is made by other Nortek Global brands that are national or regional including: Tappan, Westinghouse, Frigidaire, Broan and NuTone. Daikin recently bought Goodman which owned the Amana brand. These units are identical apart from the covers and badging, and they are variable-capacity air conditioners like the first two.

The units are covered with 12-year parts and unit replacement warranties. Trane and American Standard are Ingersoll-Rand brands, and these units are identical beneath the covers. Like those on the list that are more efficient, these are variable-capacity air conditioners. The compressors modulate in 1/10th of 1% increments for extreme precision. These twin ACs are made by brands owned by Lennox. They feature modulating compressors like the Lennox XC25 and others. These units mark a significant step forward in efficiency for these brands. These nearly-identical models from United Technology brands feature two-stage compressors. They run on low capacity, which is about 65% capacity, most of the time to create cooling cycles that are longer, more energy-efficient than single-stage cooling but not as efficient as variable-capacity cooling. These are the most efficient 2-stage ACs on the market. These are nearly identical air conditioners from two Paloma Brands companies.

They are efficient two-stage ACs with the industry-leading Copeland scroll compressor. These are variable-capacity models. It’s odd for an HVAC company to have a two-stage model with higher SEER than a modulating model, but that’s the case with Carrier and Bryant. Heil’s top model is a 19 SEER AC with two-stage performance. This unit by sister brands sold regionally include Comfortmaker, Arcoaire, Day & Night, Tempstar and Keep Right There are quite a few two-stage central air conditioners with SEER ratings up to 18 SEER. A short list of the best models includes: Note on SEER ratings “up to”: Central air conditioners are made in sizes from either 1.5 ton or 2.0 ton capacity up to 5.0 ton capacity in increments of 0.5 or 1.0 tons. The sizes within any model will vary slightly in efficiency. When a unit is said to have a SEER rating up to 20, for example, it means that the most efficient size of that air conditioner achieves 20 SEER. The range in SEER ratings might vary by 1 SEER point or slightly more.