High efficiency air conditioners: how to keep your house cool while saving money
High efficiency air conditioners are the way to go. Learn the ins-and-outs of these AC units.
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The battle to lower heating and cooling costs for a home is one that's fought constantly by builders and homeowners alike. Many question the best methods for raising energy efficiency through HVAC systems. With high efficiency air conditioners, how to keep your house cool while saving money becomes a fairly easy question to answer. It is simply a case of knowing just what a high efficiency air conditioner is capable of doing.
With high efficiency air conditioners, how to keep your house cool while saving money is mostly a matter of the SEER rating of the air conditioner in question. The seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) is the cooling effect produced by the unit in BTUs divided by the electricity that the unit uses in watts.
Higher SEER ratings indicate more efficient air conditioners. Older AC units tended to have ratings of 10 or less. While high efficiency air conditions are defined as those with SEERS of 13 or higher, as required by U.S. law since 2005. Some of the most efficient units reach SEER ratings as high as 20, but in order to be labeled as ENERGY STAR compliant, AC units must have a SEER rating of 14 or more.
For more information on AC terminology, read an "Air Conditioner Buyers Guide".
Ask a contractor for quotes on high efficiency air conditioners!
Changing from a low efficiency to a high efficiency unit can lead to significant savings in terms of heating and cooling your home. For example, an increase from a SEER of nine to 13 can lead to a power consumption reduction of approximately 28 percent, saving you up to $300 in energy costs each year.
Even with high efficiency air conditioners, how to keep your house cool while saving money requires more than simply planning to install an air conditioner that has the highest SEER rating that you can find.
Efficient home cooling requires that you provide just enough power through your AC unit for the size of your home. Both over- and under-sizing your AC can lead to losses in energy efficiency.
An undersized unit, for example, may fail to provide the amount of heating or cooling required despite constant operation, while an oversized unit may fail to keep the humidity of the home properly balanced because it will be constantly turning on and off.
A contractor can assess your home to determine which SEER rating is appropriate for its size and layout. He can provide you with an air conditioner estimate, giving you an accurate air conditioner prices for units capable of meeting your heating and cooling needs.
Keeping your house cool while saving money is easy with high efficiency air conditioners. By matching the proper high efficiency unit with your home size, you'll increase efficiency instantly. You can save enough money, even on small upgrades, so that the unit eventually pays for its self.
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