If youbre in the market for a new air conditioner, you may have noticed a little sticker on the side of certain models reading bEnergy Star.b Clearly, itbs a selling point, but what does the Energy Star sticker mean? The short answer is that itbs a mark of quality courtesy of the EPA, denoting models that are more energy efficient and cost-effective than normal. For people looking into new air conditioning in Arden, NC, there are HVAC companies that can help you with the specifics of a decision. The Energy Star sticker is a quick bcheat sheetb to guide you in the right direction.
The Energy Star system was established by the EPA as a way of encouraging companies and consumers to invest in more efficient technology. In terms of air conditioners, that applies mostly to the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. This rating is roughly derived from the amount of energy the air conditioner consumes versus the amount of energy it actually uses to cool your home. The higher the rating, the more energy goes into the air conditionerbs job instead of being wasted on inefficiency. The U.S. government mandated that all air conditioners produced in 2006 or later needed to have a SEER rating of at least 13, though units built before then that are still in operation donbt need to have a SEER rating that high.
For units with the Energy Star sticker, that number needs to be even higher. For single package systems, the unit needs a SEER rating of at least 14. For split systems, the number needs to be at least 14.5. You may be able to find a cheaper unit that doesnbt have the Energy Star sticker, but chances are it will end up costing you more in the long term due to higher monthly energy costs.
If youbre installing a new air conditioning in Arden, NC, we have the experts you need at Comfort Central, Inc. We can talk to you about what the Energy Star sticker means, and how that will factor into your decision to purchase a new unit. We have the skills and experience you need, so give us a call today!