Things to Look for When Buying Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Air Source Heat Pumps

Look for the EnergyGuide label that contains the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER, and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor, or HSPF. The former measures energy efficiency during the cooling season and the latter measures energy efficiency during the heating season. If the heat pump has earned an Energy StarŪ label, the product is in the top 25 percent for efficiency. To finance the purchase of a heat pump with a 5% Dollar and Energy Saving Loan, the SEER rating must be at least 12.00 and the HSPF must be at least 7.80.

Central Air Conditioners Look for the EnergyGuide label with a SEER rating for central air conditioners. To earn an Energy StarŪ, the minimum efficiency level is 12 SEER. These exceed federal energy efficiency standards by at least 20 percent. Air conditioners that bear the Energy StarŪ label may be twice as efficient as some existing systems. Dollar and Energy Saving Loans can finance central air conditioners that have a SEER of 12.00 or higher.

Room Air Conditioners

Look for the EnergyGuide label with an Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER. The higher the EER, the more efficient the unit. Energy StarŪ units are among the most energy efficient products. Room air conditioners financed with Dollar and Energy Saving Loans must have an EER of 10.0 or higher.

When buying a room air conditioner, consider these factors:

• Buy a correctly sized or slightly undersized unit. This table provides a rough guide for sizing room air conditioners in moderate to poorly insulated buildings. If your building is well insulated, you should select a unit with fewer Btus per hour.

• If the room is very sunny, increase capacity by 10 percent.
• If the unit is for a kitchen, increase the capacity by 4,000 Btu per hour.

Return to the Spring 1999 Newsletter