If you’re trying to reduce your carbon footprint, you’ve been paying attention to the ENERGY STAR stickers on every appliance you buy. Sometimes, these labels can be confusing, however. And often, they’re different for different appliances – so you are you supposed to compare brands? Read more on efficiency ratings explained so you can make better decisions on your purchases.

Nearly every product on the market comes with a sticker on the front bragging about its energy efficiency. The most efficient products qualify for the ENERGY STAR program.

SEER Ratings

When you’re shopping for AC units. you’ll see the SEER rating on the sticker. SEER is an anacronym for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, providing the appliance’s cooling efficiency for the summer cooling season.

The SEER is reached by dividing the cooling output by energy consumption over the summer. The higher the number, the more efficient it is. Air conditioners need a SEER rating of at least 14 to qualify for ENERGY STAR.

EER Ratings

If you need more immediate data, look for the EER, or Energy Efficiency Rating. This provides a rating for straightforward cooling output divided by immediate power consumption. The ratings range from 11 to 14.

EER is measured at the unit’s highest cooling demand, which is outdoor temperatures of 95F, indoor temperatures of 85F, and a relativity humidity of 50 percent.

IEER

If you’re looking for long-term numbers, check the IEER ratings. This is similar to the SEER and EER but measures the unit’s efficiency over the course of a whole year.

The IEER rating averages the unit’s EER rating at four different demand loads: 100 percent, 75, percent, 50 percent, and 25 percent. IEER includes the number of hours the unit works at each level, weighting each separately, to calculate an efficiency rating over time.

HSPF Ratings

For heat pumps, look at the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. This number divides the pump’s energy consumption into the heated square footage for an entire heating season. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit, with the highest being 10.

AFUE Ratings

For furnaces and boilers, the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is key to comparing equipment. This number compares the unit’s heat output against its fossil fuel consumption. This rating is expressed in a percentage, the amount of total consumption actually used to heat your home.

The higher the percentage, the better the efficiency ratings. ENERGY STAR has set different criteria for gas and oil furnaces, and for different regions of the U.S.

Why Efficiency Ratings Are Critical

Heating and cooling make up the majority of your home’s energy use. Upgrading to more efficient equipment can reduce your monthly expenses, and like will also improve your comfort.

Make an appointment today with the experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning in Pleasantville when you’re ready to upgrade to a greener and more sustainable home.