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A rating on comfort equipment is similar to the miles per
gallon rating on your car. The higher the rating number, the more efficient
the system and the lower your fuel consumption will be.
You can save a lot of money with a high efficiency unit, as
shown in the Central
Florida SEER Chart. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER)
is the amount of cooling your equipment delivers per every dollar spent on
electricity. SEER applies to air conditioners and heat pumps. In the past, a
unit with a SEER of 8.00 was considered standard efficiency, and a unit with
a 10.00 SEER was considered high efficiency. After January 1, 1992, the
minimum SEER required by the DOE is 10.00 and 15.00+ SEER is considered high
efficiency. Beginning January 1, 2006 the minimum SEER rating allowed by
DOE is 13.
To use the chart you need to calculate your annual cooling
dollars. Your typical cooling dollars can be calculated by taking the
difference between your lowest monthly electric bill and your remaining
monthly bills. Add the months together to determine your annual cooling
costs. Then go across the row closest to your annual cooling dollars to
determine your approximate savings or calculate by multiplying the
percentage of savings.
Of course, your potential energy savings depends on your
personal lifestyle, system settings, equipment maintenance, duct system and
actual construction of your home.
A home’s comfort system consists of two components: the
outdoor unit (air conditioner or heat pump) and the indoor unit (coil or
blower coil). In order to get the listed efficiency ratings both components
require matching. Combinations of various units, as well as currently
installed equipment such as the air handler, will result in vastly different
efficiency ratings.
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