Effective January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) minimum energy efficiency requirements went into effect for all newly manufactured residential and commercial air conditioners and heat pumps. Simply put, HVAC Equipment Manufacturers are no longer allowed to provide HVAC Systems that perform below a certain level of efficiency. In addition to the new efficiency standards, the standards have been raised for measuring the efficiency of HVAC Systems.
Southeastern Regional Guidelines for Central Air Conditioners and Light Commercial Heating and Cooling Equipment
The DOE Divides the US into 3 Regions, and Shreveport – Bossier City falls within the Southeast Regional Guidelines. The Southeast Guidelines for Residential Split Systems less than 45,000 BTU, the minimum is 14.3 SEER2. For Residential Split Systems greater than or equal to 45,000 BTU, the minimum is 13.8 SEER2. Heat Pump Systems, the minimum is 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPSF2. For example, if a residential home needed a 2.5 ton Split AC System, we would be required to provide our customer a 14.3 SEER2 system or better. If the residence required 4 ton Split AC System, we would be required to provide our customer a 13.8 SEER2 system or better.
SEER2 vs SEER & HVAC Energy Efficiency Ratings
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) compares the performance of AC Systems. The DOE has also changed the measurement standards of SEER Ratings. The goal of new SEER2 testing procedures is to better represent external conditions seen in the field. Current SEER testing does not accurately emulate the influence of ductwork and external static pressure on HVAC products. Because of this, it is not often representative of real-world applications.
Heat pumps are more energy efficient than other heating systems like furnaces. Under ideal conditions, a heat pump can transfer 300% more energy than it consumes, while a high-efficiency gas furnace is about 95% efficient. And, since heat pumps perform both heating and cooling functions, they can be a great investment for homeowners. Since heat pumps can do double duty, they have both an HSPF2 and a SEER2 rating.
When a heat pump is set to “heat,” it transfers heat into your home to warm it. HSPF2 measures the efficiency of this process. When a heat pump is set to “cool,” it extracts heat out of your home to cool it down. SEER2 measures the efficiency of this process. While both HSPF2 and SEER2 are indicators of overall heat pump efficiency, they measure opposite things. The HSPF2 rating measures energy efficiency during heating months in the fall and winter, and SEER2 measures energy efficiency during cooling months in the spring and summer.