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System Efficiency Facts

This section is designed to give you a little knowledge of air conditioner, heat pump and furnace efficiencies.

     Air Conditioning Efficiency         

   Most people use a term of SEER when describing the efficiency of an air conditioning system. This stands for Seasonal Energy    Efficiency Ratio. Put in simpler terms, the higher the number – the more efficient the unit. The federal government has instituted  standards requiring equipment manufacturers to make their systems more efficient. In 1992, a  law was passed requiring all       
 systems to be a minimum of 10 SEER. Beginning with January 2006, a new law now requires all systems to be a minimum        
 of 13 SEER. To best illustrate the example, a 13 SEER system uses ½ the electricity of a 6.5 SEER system, which was          
 available prior to 1992. Systems are available currently that reach over 20 SEER, but the higher efficiency is reflected in the        
 higher up front investment.

If you have a new system installed, chances are it will be more efficient that what you currently have. Your overall savings will  
 be dependent on the total cost of electricity, weather (is it hotter or cooler than last year?) and usage.                                     

     Heating Efficiencies

     When looking at heating efficiencies, don’t get confused. You need to take in consideration the cost of the fuel versus the
     amount of heat it produces (Cost per therm), and the efficiency of how well it uses this fuel. An electric furnace is effectively
     100% efficient, but the cost of an electric furnace can be 3 times the cost of a gas furnace – due to the per “therm” cost of
      gas versus electric.     

    Heat Pump Efficiency

    Heat Pumps use a heating efficiency rated call COP, or Coefficient of Performance. The higher the COP, the more
    cost-effective the heat pump is at producing heat. Heat pumps use reverse cycle of an air conditioner to produce very
    efficient heating costs.

    Gas Efficiency

    Systems that use either natural gas or propane for heating are rated using a term called AFUE, or Annual Fuel Utilizatio
    Efficiency. This is used to determine how much of the heat that the fuel uses actually ends up in the house, and how much
    goes up the chimney to the outside.

    When gas is burned, it creates a certain amount of heat. Any burning fossil fuel also produces combustion byproducts
    (flue gases) that need to be exhausted to the outside. Manufacturers have designed systems to reach efficiencies of 95%
    and more by limiting the amount of heat that escapes with the flue gases.

    Gas furnaces designed before 1992 had efficiencies as low as 50% but the standard was set at that time to 78%. An 80% or
    90% efficient furnace is very common, your location in the country and other configuration factors determine which is most
    appropriate for you.

    Oil Efficiency

    Oil efficiency is measured in the same terms as gas – using AFUE. The effective cost to use this heat source is determined
    by the cost of a gallon of fuel oil and the amount of heat (cost per therm) that is produced.

    Multi-Stage Burners

    Systems are available now, particularly with gas fired units that adjust the amount of heat produced by the system based on
    the amount required. For example, if the weather is mild outside the burner may burn less gas allowing the unit to run longer
    as opposed to short cycling by turning on and off frequently. This feature increases the cost effectiveness and comfort provided
    by the system.

   Variable Speed Blowers
 

   Until recently, most blowers (fans) in furnaces were either all the way on, or off. This sometimes causes an uncomfortable
   movement of the air when furnaces or heat pumps first start up. New variable speed technology slowly increases and decreases
   the blower speed as needed for maximum comfort.

   An additional benefit of a variable speed blower is the ability to continually move the air. If you have a central air cleaner or air          p purification system, you can’t clean the air unless the air is moving through the system. A variable speed system allows the air 
   to move slowly when cooling or heating is not required, and speeds the system up when necessary. This allows for the most      effeffective use of an indoor air quality system.