What energy efficiency ratings mean and why they're important

January 10, 2017

The cost to heat and cool your home makes up more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to look for a system that delivers superior comfort in your Bloomfield 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 existing equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the process. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings indicate?

SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Bloomfield. A greater SEER rating indicates a higher energy efficiency, which will convert into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for colder states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an modern system.

AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it keeps track of the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel used. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The higher the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat created is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is misplaced through venting.

HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and works to measure the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating effectiveness. Like the others, the higher the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.

Stanford Heating & Cooling in Bloomfield presents equipment with the best energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be more than willing to help you better comprehend to keep your home comfy, while saving money. Give us a call at 812-825-8695 to arrange for an appointment with us.