If you’re planning to install a new heat pump or air conditioner in your home or business on or after January 1st, you need to be aware of important changes to energy efficiency standards established by the U.S. Department of Energy. In Corpus Christi, we’re affected by nationwide standards and changes to the Southern region. Since many professionals remain unaware of these changes, educating yourself is crucial. These new standards will help lower energy costs and improve quality of life.
Here are the 2015 HVAC efficiency standards changes you should be aware of:
- A new national standard of 14 SEER for all split-system heat pumps. SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures the ratio of cooling in BTUs to the energy consumed in watt-hours. Units that only met the old 13 SEER standard can no longer be produced for our region.
- The HSPF, or Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, will also be raised to 8.2 for all split-system heat pumps nationwide. While units above a HSPF of 8 used to be considered high-efficiency heat pumps, this rating will become standard as of 2015.
- Air conditioners in the South and Southwest must have a SEER of at least 14. Units in the North region only require a SEER of 13, likely because air conditioners are less needed in the North.
- The yellow tags that hang off of heat pumps and new air conditioners for sale will also see a change. The SEER and HSPF ratings on these tags will no longer have a single point rating produced by comparisons to similar models. According to 2015 HVAC efficiency standards, ratings on FTC EnergyGuide labels must show the range of ratings for all combinations of components.
- The aggregate rating of all components in a unit must meet the new standards.
To get more valuable information about energy efficiency or other issues related to cooling, heating or indoor air quality, don’t hesitate to contact us at CCAC. We’re proud to provide a wide range of products and services to home and business owners throughout Corpus Christi and the Coastal Bend.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Corpus Christi, Texas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about HVAC efficiency standards and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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