The cost to heat and cool your home adds up to more than half of your utility bills. That’s why it’s imperative to search for a system that offers excellent comfort in your Menomonie and western Wisconsin home while still remaining energy efficient. Higher energy efficiency means your system is working well while using less energy. Whether you are looking into a replacement air conditioner or furnace or thinking to upgrade your present equipment to be more energy efficient, there are some ratings to look out for that will help you during the search. So what exactly do those energy efficiency ratings represent?
SEER (used to measure cooling efficiency)
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. The SEER rating reflects the effectiveness of your unit at different temperatures, or rather, seasonally in Menomonie and western Wisconsin. A larger SEER rating signifies a larger energy efficiency, which will convert into less expensive utility bills. The Department of Energy expects a minimum 13 SEER-rating for chillier states in the north and a 14 SEER-rating minimum for hotter, southern states. If your home has an aged unit with a lower SEER-rating, you could see extreme energy savings after an improvement.
AFUE or HSPF (used to measure heating efficiency: gas or electric)
AFUE stands for Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratio and it finds the percentage of heat created for every dollar of fuel expended. You can think of it as the MPG on your car. The greater the AFUE-rating, the lower your energy costs. If your furnace has a AFUE rating of 80, that means that 80% of the heat created is exhausted to heat the home, while 20% of the heat is lost through venting.
HSPF stands for the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor and is used to measure the heating productivity of heat pumps. It is the SEER rating for the winter season as it only keeps track of your unit’s heating productivity. Again, the greater the number, the extra energy efficient the heat pump.
Halverson Brothers Inc in Menomonie and western Wisconsin offers equipment with the greatest energy efficiency ratings. If you are hesitant what the energy ratings are of the equipment in your home we would be more than willing to help you become better informed to keep your home content, while saving money. Give us a call at 715-352-4052 to set up an appointment with us.