The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s so important to find a system that delivers superior comfort in your Cambridge home while still being energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is doing more while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or considering to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the process. 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 reflects the efficiency of your unit at different temperatures, meaning, seasonally in Cambridge. A larger SEER rating denotes a greater energy efficiency, which will turn into lower utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for cooler states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for warmer, southern states. If your home has an older unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see radical energy savings after an modern system.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it measures the percentage of heat produced for every dollar of fuel expended. You can consider it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the smaller your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that denotes that 80% of the heat generated is used to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is wasted through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to keep track of the heating efficiency of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only measures your unit’s heating efficiency. Similarly, the larger the number, the greater energy efficient the heat pump.
Pliescott HVAC Services LLC in Cambridge offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are uncertain what the energy ratings are of the heating and cooling in your home we would be happy to help you become better informed to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 410-228-4822 to set up an appointment with us.