The cost to heat and cool your home totals more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to find a system that offers quality comfort in your Albuquerque home while still being energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are considering a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your current equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to be aware of that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings mean?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating considers the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, in other words, seasonally in Albuquerque. A greater SEER rating denotes a higher energy efficiency, which will translate into smaller utility bills. The Department of Energy demands a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for humid, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an upgrade.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it finds the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel consumed. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the less your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that means that 80% of the heat created is consumed to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to measure the heating effectiveness of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only measures your unit’s heating effectiveness. Again, the larger the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
I-Deal HVAC in Albuquerque presents equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the system in your home we would be glad to help you become better informed to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 505-445-1250 to schedule an appointment with us.