
Air Conditioners
Air conditioners may look similar, but their Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER/SEER2 and EER/EER2) can vary widely. For air conditioners, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) new minimum efficiency standards vary by region, so your choice of AC units will depend on where you live.
The DOE’s regional breakdown by state is as follows:
- North
- 14.0 SEER/ 13.4 SEER2
- Southeast
- 15.0 SEER/ 14.3 SEER2
- 12.2 EER/11.7 EER2
- Southwest
- 15.0 SEER/ 14.3 SEER2
- 12.2 EER/11.7 EER2
SEER Versus SEER2
SEER2 is an updated rating standard introduced by the DOE. SEER2 standards are intended to provide a better gauge of typical home operating conditions whereas the older SEER rating utilized very precise protocols to determine ratings in ideal conditions. SEER2 standards include updated testing means that give a better indication of how a unit will operate in the real world.
Much like miles-per-gallon for a car, SEER/SEER2 and EER/EER2 offer an easy way to compare efficiencies of different products – the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. Just be sure you are comparing either SEER vs SEER or SEER2 vs SEER2 (same for EER/EER2).
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