Air conditioning typically consumes more electricity than anything else in a home. That makes choosing an energy-efficient AC essential since it will allow you to pay less to keep your home cool. SEER and SEER2 ratings are used to express the efficiency of certain AC units. Here, we’ll explain everything you need to know about these ratings and the current minimum efficiency requirements.
California’s Current Minimum SEER Requirements
The US Department of Energy (DOE) mandates minimum SEER requirements for all new central air conditioners and heat pumps. The DOE separates the country into three zones—North, Southeast and Southwest. The requirements for the Northern zone are slightly lower than they are for the Southeast and Southwest. The reason is simply that it doesn’t get as hot in the Northern zone. That means air conditioning systems in this zone don’t get nearly the same amount of regular use as they do in places that are further south.
In California and everywhere else in the Southeast and Southwest, the current minimum requirement is 15 SEER. This requirement went into effect at the beginning of 2023 and is an increase of 1 SEER from the previous requirement.
An Overview of What SEER Ratings Signify and How They’re Calculated
The SEER rating scale was developed as a way to more accurately estimate the overall energy efficiency of cooling units like central air conditioners, heat pumps and ductless mini-splits. Previously, the energy efficiency of these units was measured in EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio), which is still used to show the energy efficiency of portable and window AC units.
The issue with EER is that it is essentially just a snapshot of how efficiently a unit works and how much energy it uses per hour. This isn’t an issue with portable and window air conditioners since their efficiency and energy usage stay pretty much consistent. However, EER isn’t an accurate measurement of the efficiency of any other type of cooling unit.
The reason that EER can’t accurately assess the efficiency of other cooling units is that they are located outside. That means that their efficiency and energy usage fluctuate quite a lot based on the current outdoor temperature and humidity level. The hotter and/or more humid it is outside, the less effectively the unit works and the more energy it will use. These fluctuations are why SEER ratings instead look at the average efficiency over an entire cooling season instead of just how much energy the unit consumes in any given hour.
The SEER rating of a cooling unit is calculated by first testing the unit. This is done by running the unit in a wide range of different temperatures and humidity levels to simulate the varying conditions it will typically operate in throughout the late spring to early fall. This test can then determine approximately how much total electricity the unit would use on average per hour during the entire cooling season. The SEER rating can then be calculated by looking at the ratio of the average energy used per hour to how many BTUs of cooling the unit produces an hour. The higher the ratio or SEER number is, the more energy efficient the unit is.
Understanding SEER2 Ratings
Along with increasing the minimum efficiency requirements, the DOE also mandated the use of the new SEER2 rating system at the start of 2023. SEER2 ratings are quite similar to SEER ratings in that they are still a ratio of energy consumption to British Thermal Units (BTUs). The difference between the two is in the way that the units are tested to estimate their annual energy consumption. Studies showed that the original SEER ratings weren’t all that accurate. This is because the testing parameters didn’t accurately simulate the real-world conditions that most central cooling systems operate under.
To make the ratings more accurate, units are now tested at a higher static pressure. Static pressure is a measurement of the amount of resistance that the air flowing through a ductwork system encounters. The static pressure in most HVAC systems is higher than what was used to determine SEER ratings. Higher static pressure most commonly happens due to issues like a dirty air filter, ductwork leaks, dirty ductwork and a malfunctioning or dirty blower.
It’s not really necessary that you fully understand what static pressure means or the technical differences between SEER and SEER2 ratings. What’s important is that you understand that the higher the rating of any unit is, the more efficiently it will work and the less it will cost to cool your home.
Your Reliable HVAC Professionals
At Service All-Stars, we’re dedicated to providing exceptional customer support and outstanding air conditioning and heating services. We serve customers in Bellflower and throughout LA County and are the company to turn to for all of your installation, repair and maintenance needs. Whether you need to replace your AC or need to schedule a repair or maintenance appointment, contact us today to get the expert advice, help and support you need.
