When it comes to selecting the most efficient HVAC system for your home, there are a few essential elements to take into account. The first is the SEER rating, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. For ENERGY STAR to consider it “most efficient”, an HVAC unit must have a SEER rating of at least 18. Using a unit with a SEER rating of 20 or more is not recommended, unless the summers in your area are extremely hot, you live there full-time and plan to stay for more than five years (only then can you get a refund of the additional costs).The effectiveness of a heat pump is heavily dependent on weather conditions. In moderate climates, heat pumps are much more efficient than furnaces.
In very cold climates, furnaces are more efficient (although heat pumps are quickly becoming competitive). How much energy? This depends on many individual factors, but to give you an idea of the difference between older and newer furnaces, the DOE reports that “increasing the efficiency of a furnace or boiler by 56 to 90% in an average cold climate home will save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if heated with natural gas”.Furnaces are also attractive due to their relatively low cost. Noise According to our survey of our readers, quiet operation is the feature that best indicates an owner's overall satisfaction with their air conditioning. Manufacturers publish the noise levels of their products based on various outside temperatures and fan speeds, measured in decibels.
A lower rating is better, especially if the air conditioner will be installed near a bedroom window. With an energy-saving air conditioning system and an extended labor warranty, you have free service calls, unlimited repairs, and much less stress. Heat pumps are all-in-one air conditioning and heating units (the fact that they are dual-purpose makes them efficient in their own way). These types of assessments are a good indication of the energy efficiency of an air conditioning system, but they are not the only factor to consider when choosing the most energy efficient air conditioning system for your home. It's also beneficial that technicians are certified by a commercial organization, such as North American Technician Excellence or HVAC Excellence, to repair residential heating and cooling equipment. In a ducted air conditioning system, between 20 and 30% of the air that passes through the ducts is lost due to leaks, holes and poorly connected ducts, which significantly increases energy costs.
