Is your current heating or cooling HVAC equipment in need of repair or replacement? If your system is 10-15 years old or more, consider replacing it with modern heating or cooling equipment that carries the federal Energy Star rating.
Energy Star-certified products save energy without compromising performance or features. In order to qualify for the coveted Energy Star – a mark awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) – HVAC equipment must meet various minimum efficiency standards, depending on the type of system. For example, furnaces are awarded the Energy Star if they can meet the minimum standards for heating efficiency, as measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating system. A/Cs and heat pumps are rated based on their cooling efficiency, measure by the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and heating efficiency, as indicated by the Heating Season Performance Factor (HSPF). To achieve the Energy Star, these minimum efficiency levels are higher than the actual minimums set by the government in order for the equipment to be sold.
Central Air Conditioners
The minimum Energy Star cooling efficiency standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps is SEER 14. This is just above the DOE minimum of 13. As the ratings go up, efficiency improves. Currently, SEER numbers rise into the 20s.
Furnaces
Energy Star-qualified furnaces must have an AFUE of 90 percent when sold in southern states and 95 percent in northern states. The DOE minimum for the entire country is AFUE 78 percent. The percentage reflects how much fuel gets converted into heat for our homes.
Heat Pumps
As stated, air-source heat pumps, the most common variety, must achieve a SEER of 14 to obtain the Energy Star for cooling efficiency. For heating efficiency, they must achieve an HSPF of eight (the DOE minimum is 6.8).
Energy 1 Heating & Air-Conditioning has been serving Erie, Lorain and Cuyahoga Counties for more than 35 years. Don’t hesitate to contact us to get a free estimate for your new HVAC equipment installation, or for any repairs or maintenance work you may need.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lorain, Ohio about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about Energy Star products and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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Energy 1 Heating & Air Conditioning
1 (440) 246-5440
Serving the Lorain, OH Area