New DOE Air Conditioner and Heat Pump Efficiency Standard Effective January 22, 2006.

All heating and air conditioning equipment is supplied with a manufacture's rating of the energy efficiency. The minimum standard for air conditioners and heat pumps was 10 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating). This has been the standard for many years, and equipment with this rating represents the vast majority of residential air conditioning installed in the United States. Starting January 22, 2006 the Department of Energy has ruled that any new equipment installed must meet a new minimum efficiency of 13 SEER. According to DOE studies the change from a 10 SEER to 13 SEER represents a 30% increase in air conditioning or heat pump energy efficiency.

What this law means to someone with a home at the beach--
Salt laden air destroys metals with rust and corrosion. The outdoor units deteriorate faster than if they were away from the coast. A older home may have had many outdoor units replaced over the years with the original air handler unit. (Typically, outdoor units on the coast are replaced every 5 to 10 years) With this new SEER change it requires the indoor air handler be replaced to match the system. It will not work as intended and will void the manufactures warranty if 13 SEER systems are matched with 10 SEER or less indoor air handlers.

13 SEER is good news for your electric bill!

To achieve this new standard requires changes to the equipment. Generally speaking the new efficiency standard is going to be achieved in two ways.

1. The first change is going to be in compressors. New technology compressors run quiet and provide excellent efficiency and durability.
2. The second way to increase the equipment's efficiency is to increase the size of the evaporator and condenser coils in the system.

The new compressors and larger coils will mean an increase in the cost of the equipment. Another factor in the cost of installation is the physical size of the equipment. In many cases involving a retrofit, the newer air handler unit may not fit in the closet, or over the water heater, etc. Another factor involving the cost of the installation could be the thermostat. Many new systems come with diagnostic control boards. A new digital thermostat can take advantage of the diagnostics and cut down on maintenance calls or diagnostic time. This means savings for the consumer and peace of mind to know their equipment is running properly.

As more manufactures change from production of 10 SEER equipment to 13 SEER equipment the consumer should see some savings in the price, but the overall cost of all heat and air equipment will rise beginning this year. The price of metal continues to impact the cost of equipment and as stated in the paragraph above, the 13 SEER equipment is normally larger than the comparable 10 SEER equipment (i.e. more metal in manufacturing). So, in conclusion there is going to be a trade off facing builders, homeowners and heat and air contractors in the near future. The technology to save 30% on energy consumption will be the standard as mandated by the Department of Energy. But, to achieve that energy savings will impact the upfront cost of installation. If you have any questions on the energy efficiency or this new standard feel free to give us a call.

We can even offer a new energy efficient systems with a 10 year parts and labor warranty.

Take comfort in Total Comfort.