What's a SEER Rating?

Every air conditioning model manufactured and sold in the United States receives a SEER rating, which stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.

This number is calculated by dividing the number of BTUs of heat removal by the total watt-hours of energy use. One BTU (British Thermal Unit) equals the amount of energy required to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit – roughly the amount of energy created by a lit birthday candle; watt-hours measure electricity.

By calculating the ratio between how much heat an air conditioner removes and the energy it needs to do so, the energy efficiency can be determined. The higher the SEER number, the more efficient the air conditioner. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) recently raised the minimum SEER rating in the U.S. to 13, which will result in a significant decrease in energy consumed by residential air conditioners.

When purchasing a new air conditioning unit, look for the higher SEER ratings. The extra initial expense will be returned to you in monthly energy bill savings.