The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to find a system that provides quality comfort in your Omaha home while still remaining energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is operating well while using less energy. Whether you are considering a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to know that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating takes into consideration the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Omaha. A larger SEER rating denotes a greater energy efficiency, which will translate into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy requires a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for humid, southern states. If your home has an older unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical 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 finds the percentage of heat generated for every dollar of fuel used. 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 used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to keep track of the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating productivity. Similarly, the greater the number, the more energy efficient the heat pump.
Interstate Heating & Air Conditioning in Omaha presents equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be happy to help you better understand to keep your home comfortable, while saving money. Give us a call at 402-509-5940 to arrange for an appointment with us.