Energy All-Stars: High-Efficiency Air Conditioners Room • Central • Ductless Split-System Thanks to new technology and new federal standards, air conditioners are more efficient than ever before and will improve further in the coming years. Of course, bumps in efficiency also mean bumps in price. The government is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to making sure that you have energy-efficient appliances in your home. For example, in September 2014, new federal energy-efficiency standards went into effect for refrigerators. Now, new minimum requirements went into effect for room air conditioners and in 2015 for central air conditioners. The latest: Department of Energy is considering standards for portable air conditioners—the last vestige of the consumer air-conditioning marketplace that’s untouched by regulation. Today, energy-efficient technology that was used by only one or two manufacturers previously is widespread, and energy-efficiency ratings hit record highs.

Air conditioners are getting smarter, too—from being able to sense when you’re in a room to relieving you from making a maintenance call. Contractors tell us that a malfunctioning central air conditioner now can send an email that tells the contractor the problem and which part is required so he/she can fix the air conditioner in one trip, which should cut down on maintenance costs. That’s a good thing, because more-efficient models will cost you more upfront.hvac unit 34 exam answersIn January 2015, DOE minimum-efficiency standards went into effect that divide the United States into three territories: the north, southeast and southwest. bloomberg window ac unitCentral air conditioners that are sold in the north still must have a minimal seasonal energy-efficiency ratio (SEER) of 13, which has been the national minimum since 2007. hvac unit icing up

However, new central air conditioners that are sold in the southwest and southeast states must achieve a SEER of at least 14. That change pushed several manufacturers to revamp their lineups. Rheem, for example, says that instead of upgrading a few models to achieve compliance, it will roll out an entirely new product lineup for 2015 that meets these new efficiency requirements, some models of which already are available. Trane, meanwhile, is bringing new models to market in addition to upgrading models that already exist in the company’s lineup. Unsurprisingly, these new models come with updated and new (read: higher) prices. Manufacturers don’t publish MSRPs for central air conditioners, but the four manufacturers with which we spoke all agreed that, in general, the new models are more expensive than their predecessors were. No across-the-board formula determines how much more a 14-SEER air conditioner will cost when compared with a 13-SEER model, says Dave Yates, who is the president of heating-and-cooling installer F.W. Behler.

He says that, in some cases, manufacturers simply expand the size of the air conditioner and use a bigger coil to get the extra point of efficiency, which is a relatively inexpensive upgrade. Others invest in new compressors or technology. In general, we found that 13- and 14-SEER central air conditioners typically cost $1,200–$3,800. How New Regional Standards Might Affect You Read Now However, Charlie McCrudden of Air Conditioning Contractors of America, which is a trade association, says making a big air conditioner can have a big effect on pricing. He recalls the last time that minimum standards went up, to 13 SEER from 10 SEER. “Suddenly, those boxes didn’t fit into trucks the way they used to,” he says. Consequently, transportation and shipping costs went up as a result of units getting bigger and trucks not being able to carry as many in a single shipment. McCrudden says manufacturers are doing more to keep their models a reasonable size, but he and other experts with whom we spoke agree that prices will climb—at least in southern states where higher efficiency now is mandated—as a result of the new standards.

Split-system air conditioners, which consist of a compressor and condenser in an outdoor metal cabinet, an indoor cabinet that contains the evaporator coil and an air-handling unit that sends cool air through a duct system, must meet similar efficiency standards—13 SEER in the north and 14 SEER in the southeast and southwest. However, split-system models that are sold in the southwest also must have a minimum energy-efficiency ratio (EER) of 12.2. EER is calculated at a single temperature—95 degrees Fahrenheit. SEER, meanwhile, is calculated at a range of 65–104 degrees F. Sign up to receive new posts right from your inbox! Recent PostsInterior Design Q&A: Add Color to an Old HomeSeptember 18, 2016Interior Design Q&A: Selecting Furniture for DecorSeptember 8, 2016Interior Design Q&A: Mixing Light, Dark in KitchenAugust 21, 2016Interior Design Q&A: Colors for Open Kitchen, Dining RoomAugust 2, 2016How Geothermal HVAC Systems Work and the Benefits They ProvideJune 30, 2016Categories

Corporate News and Announcements Disaster Preparedness, Response, Cleanup and Restoration Property Development and Historic Preservation Remodeling and Interior Design Residential HVAC, Plumbing, and Electrical Tuckey in the CommunityUpdated Sep. 30, 2015 If you own a home without air conditioning, or one with older window units, you may want to consider adding a ductless split system air conditioner. This is also a good option for homes without ductwork, which can be difficult and costly to install. Ductless split systems (also known as "mini splits") cost more than window units and can be more expensive than central air- conditioning systems, although the expense of installing ductwork could balance the cost difference between these two options. Although ductless split systems can cost more up front than central systems, they can save energy dollars by allowing consumers to heat and cool specific areas, as well as eliminating the

cooled air normally lost through ductwork. Benefits of a ductless split system include ease of installation and the ability to cool and heat individual rooms as needed. Split ductless systems operate in essentially the same way as central air conditioning but do not use ducts to circulate air. A mini split is comprised of an outside condenser unit and at least one indoor blower unit mounted on the wall or ceiling which provides point-of-use air conditioning in the room where it is installed. The indoor unit is connected to the outdoor unit via a conduit through which refrigerant travels to cool the area. The conduit is concealed behind the indoor mounted unit and leaves the residence through a hole typically no larger than three inches. Split systems can be used in single zone or multi-zone applications. A single zone has one indoor and outdoor unit and are designed for use in a single room or area. A multi-zone split system combines a single outdoor condensing unit with up to four indoor units, usually located in

separate rooms and each with its own control. Multi-zone systems are most often used to cool multiple areas in a home or business. Consumers should consider the following questions in deciding whether or not a ductless split system air conditioner is the right fit for their cooling needs: Installing ductwork involves opening up walls and ceilings and can be a messy and expensiveIf you need to cool only a few rooms and can locate a qualified installation expert, then a ductless split system air conditioner may be right for you. Potential buyers can check for a SEER rating on a ductless split system, just as with other types of air conditioners. higher SEER rating are more efficient but higher in price. You may also want to read Is a Mini-Split Right for You?. The upfront cost of ductless air conditioning tends to be slightly higher than that of central airAccording to a 2012 report by the U.S. Department of Energy, mini splits cost about $1,500 to $2,000 per ton (12,000 Btu per hour) of cooling capacity – roughly 30% more

than central air systems and approximately five times more expensive than window units. According to Homewyse, the average cost to have a split system air conditioner installed is between $2,400 and $3,800, although the cost increases with each additional unit. install a central air unit (without ducts) averages between $2,900 and $4,200. Central air conditioners cool the entire house, including unoccupied rooms, while split systems only cool certain rooms and can be individually controlled, making them more economical. central air conditioners average a 30% energy loss through ductwork. energy by eliminating this loss. Because installation is critical in achieving peak performance, consumers should search for an installer who has installed ductless split systems in the past. The contractor should perform a load calculation to determine the proper size for each indoor unit and the best location in eachA system that is too large is more expensive to purchase and often wastes