Understanding the strange numbers on your appliance stickers is confusing. You know they have something to do with energy efficiency, but not what the different numbers mean or how they apply. Because reducing homeowner costs and protecting the environment are both more important than ever, take a look at our energy rating breakdown before shopping.

What is SEER?

SEER efficiency rating applies to AC units. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio and refers to the amount of cooling divided by power consumption over the course of the cooling season.

The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the product. SEER ratings of at least 14 qualifies them for ENERGY STAR.

What is the EER rating?

EER stands for Energy Efficiency Rating and refers to immediate efficiency, rather than efficiency over the summer. It uses a similar formula and scale as the SEER rating.

The EER measures efficiency at peak cooling demand. Units are tested at a standardized outdoor temperature of 95°F, an indoor temperature of 80°F, and a relative humidity of 50 percent — and they are rated between 11 and 14.

What is IEER?

While the EER efficiency rating applies at peak load, and the SEER applies for a season, the IEER rating shows an air conditioner’s efficiency throughout the year. Even in South Florida, our system is often only working at half capacity.

However, since we use AC year-round, the IEER efficiency rating is pretty critical for Florida homeowners.

The IEER takes four EER ratings — at full load, 75 percent load, 50 percent load, and 25 percent load, and then calculates the number of hours the system is working at each capacity. These percentages are weighted to find the year-round efficiency rating or IEER.

If your HVAC system isn’t functioning as efficiently as it should, call us today at (772) 238-6590 or schedule a service online.

What Does HSPF mean?

HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, is an efficiency rating that measures the performance of heat pumps. The calculations for this are based on a heat pump’s performance in Climate Region 4. This designation is defined by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and includes a number of locations.

This efficiency rating is calculated by measuring the total space to be heated during the season, divided by the system’s energy consumption during the same period. Ratings go as high as 10, and the higher the rating, the more efficient the heat pump.

What is the AFUE

AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rates the efficiency of your furnace or boiler. It calculates the furnace’s heat output compared to its annual fossil fuel energy consumption. The rating is expressed as the percentage of fuel that goes into heating your home. The higher the AFUE percentage, the more efficient the unit.

Elevate Your Efficiency

If your system is outdated, it probably isn’t energy efficient any longer. Make an appointment with One Hour Air in Stuart today for an estimate on a new system with an excellent efficiency rating for long-term savings and lower maintenance costs.

Call us at (772) 238-6590 or contact us online to schedule an appointment for AC or heating service in the Treasure Coast region today!