central air conditioners rating
Central Air Conditioners Rating
The U.S. Department of Energy developed a rating system known as the Season Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER. The SEER Rating determines how efficient an Air Conditioner is to give you an idea of what your energy cost for that unit would be. This allows you to compare units ensure you make the best purchase decision for your budget.
The rating is calculated by taking the in season total cooling output measured in BTU’s (British Thermal Units) divided by the in season total energy input measure in Kwh’s or kilowatt hours.
In other words, SEER = (Cooling Output) / (Electrical Input)
The higher the SERR rating is, the more efficient the air conditioner. Or more cool air for less energy.
Explained in another way, SEER is very similar to the efficiency rating system used in automobiles-- MPG or miles per gallon. The more miles a car drives per gallon of fuel, the more efficient the car.
Air Conditioner = Cool Air Per Electrical Watt
Automobile = Miles Per Gallon
The higher SEER rated Air Conditioners range from a rating of 18 to 23. Prices vary depending on the needs of your home, but you can find them from $3,300 to $8,000. Lower rated units, 13 being the minimum, are less expensive, and in turn cost more to operate.
How much does a higher SEER rating save you per year on your energy bill?
Below we provide a SEER Savings Table based on averages from the Tampa, Florida Air Conditioning Market.
To comprise these figures we had to make some assumptions.
- You system is periodically maintained
- You change your air filter once a month
- The thermostat is set around 76 degrees
- Your duct work and insulation are less than 20 years old
- Your electric company charges roughly 11.5 cents per Kwh (Kilowatt Hour).
- Your air conditioner is a 3-ton unit. It most likely is.
|
SEER |
Kwh Consumed Each Hr. |
Kwh's Consumed Annually |
Annual Cost to Operate Unit |
|
21 |
1.71 |
4285.71 |
492.86 |
|
20 |
1.80 |
4500.00 |
517.50 |
|
19 |
1.89 |
4736.84 |
544.74 |
|
18 |
2.00 |
5000.00 |
575.00 |
|
17 |
2.12 |
5294.12 |
608.82 |
|
16 |
2.25 |
5625.00 |
646.88 |
|
15 |
2.40 |
6000.00 |
690.00 |
|
14 |
2.57 |
6428.57 |
739.29 |
|
13 |
2.77 |
6923.08 |
796.15 |
|
12 |
3.00 |
7500.00 |
862.50 |
|
11 |
3.27 |
8181.82 |
940.91 |
|
10 |
3.60 |
9000.00 |
1035.00 |
As you can see, the saving between each SEER Air Conditioner Rating Point is approximately 5%. It might not seem like much, but if you have a SEER rated 10 Air Conditioner that will cost $541 more per year than having a 21 rated unit! In 10 years that’s $5,410!