Do Laws in Your State Help You Save Money on Your AC Bill?

Summer is here, and your energy bills are set to skyrocket as you spend all day running your AC. There are a number of ways to reduce your energy consumption without sacrificing home comfort. However, did you know that there may be some legal help as well? Here are some of the money-saving laws that can reduce your energy bills this summer.

The Use of Refrigerant

You may have heard about the phase out of R-22 refrigerant. Once used in most ACs, R-22 has been found to cause damage to the ozone layer. As of the beginning of this year, its manufacture and use in HVAC systems is no longer allowed. If your system still uses R-22, it can be serviced using recycled refrigerant, but all new systems must use alternative coolants.

There are several replacements available, but the main one is a refrigerant called R-410A. While not without its own problems, it doesn’t deplete the ozone like R-22 does. What’s more, it absorbs heat more efficiently than its counterpart, which means it will save you energy and reduce your cooling bills. If your AC currently uses R-22, ask your HVAC technician if it can be retrofitted for R-410A, or consider purchasing a new system to save energy.

SEER Ratings

With refrigerant regulations, reducing energy bills is a side benefit. However, there are other money-saving laws that can impact you more directly. Particularly, the regulations on SEER ratings.

SEER is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It measures how much cooling your AC produces for the amount of energy it uses in a given season. The higher the number, the more efficient the system.

What’s more, the Department of Energy periodically raises its minimum standards. Since 2015, the minimum SEER rating for the southeastern United States, including Texas, is 14. If your system is older than that, replacing it could give your energy savings a boost and reduce your bills for a long time to come.

To learn more about the money-saving laws that could help you this summer, contact us at CCAC. Saving energy and improving home comfort for South Texas is our top priority.