An air conditioning system is a fairly long-term investment. Besides the short-term cost of buying and installing the system, there is an ongoing monthly expense for the electricity consumed. Some air conditioning systems are more energy-efficient than others, requiring less electricity to produce the same cooling output. Often, these high-efficiency air conditioners cost more initially than a basic system; over the long term, though, they can end up saving you money.
When comparing air conditioning systems, you can tell how energy-efficient they are by looking at their SEER ratings. The SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, measures how much cooling output is generated per unit of electricity; the higher the SEER rating, the less electricity will be required. Many older air conditioning systems had SEER ratings of about 10, but some new models are rated at 20 or more — roughly twice as efficient.
In a climate as warm as Corpus Christi’s, the potential savings on your electrical bill can be significant. To get an idea of how the math works out, you can utilize Energy Star’s cost calculator (a free tool). Select Corpus Christi from the list of locations, and enter in your own numbers for electric rate, number and size of units, and the SEER ratings you want to compare. Besides showing the monetary savings, the worksheet also estimates the reduction in air pollution due to using less electricity, which is another benefit of choosing high-efficiency air conditioning.
One thing to keep in mind, considering the humidity in this part of south Texas, is that higher-efficiency air conditioners often do not remove as much humidity from the air. To control humidity, you will likely want to have a whole-house dehumidifier and/or A/C enhancer. No air conditioner can fully control humidity on its own, so such tools are likely a good idea regardless of your air conditioner’s SEER rating.
For more information, contact us at Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning or come visit our office. At CCAC, we have many satisfied Corpus Christi area homeowners who can vouch for our service.
Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information, click here to download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
Mathews CCAC Air Conditioning and Heating services Corpus Christi, TX. To get started, check out our website.
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