Understanding SEER Ratings - What You Need To Know About Energy Efficiency In Florida

So on January 1st 2023 the US Department of Energy (DoE) released new and updated efficiency minimums standards for New HVAC systems and heat pumps. So how does that effect you? Well these new Standards impact the HVAC system manufacturers and the systems themselves.

There are a few things you'll need to know and understand first before we address how the new standards effect your and the HVAC Systems.

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER, is a rating of how efficient the HVAC system is. This scale works on a Higher Number Basis, meaning if the SEER Rating has a high number, the efficiency is high. A Low Number denotes a low efficiency rating. The Scale on which the SEER Rating is denoted or judged ranges from 0-25 (or above).

A "Poor" Rating is generally anything under a rating of 13 SEER
A "Good" Rating is generally 13-15 SEER
A "Better" Rating is generally 16-19 SEER
A "Best" Rating is generally 20+

The Higher a SEER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner is. This means less energy consumption as well a higher savings in operational costs.

Higher SEER rated air conditioners offer many benefits including:

Less Humidity : The High Efficiency of the system effectively removes moisture from the indoor air, thus stopping the growth of mold, mildew and other airborne contaninates.
Better for the Environment: The energy efficiecy of the systems release fewer toxins and gasses into the air, reducing environmental impact.
You might get rebates : The ENrgy Star Website may have incentives and/or rebates for owners looking to upgrade to more efficient system.
Lower of Cost Operation : That means you'll have a lower utility bill.

Now onto the Meat and Potatoes of the Newest Ratings

Florida residents that have a current HVAC System manufactured before January 1st of 2023 don't have to meet the new requirements. However, any system or upgraded system purchased and installed after January 1st 2023 does need to meet the new standards.

But You're asking yourself, what are the new Standards?

Well now that we've outlined them above, the US DoE has set these as the new Standards:

In the southeast and southwest U.S., the minimum efficiency will increase from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER. This is the Standard that effects us Floridians
In the northern U.S., the minimum efficiency will increase from 13.0 to 14.0 SEER.
Nationally, the minimum efficiency for heat pumps will increase from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER

These new Standards will no doubt have an impact of the price of the newer more efficient systems.

This usually means that this can be an increase of nearly 1/3 over current pricing, but this increase in price very well mean long-term savings for you the consumer as you upgrade to a more energy efficient system.