LEARN THE LINGO AND ACE YOUR NEXT HVAC SYSTEM PURCHASE
In our last article, we talked about How to Save Big Bucks on HVAC Upgrades by opting for energy-efficient equipment. But if you found yourself getting lost with all the terms and acronyms (AFUE? EER2? SEER?), you’re not alone! There’s a lot of lingo in the HVAC world—particularly when it comes to energy-efficiency—so we’re here to break down the most common terms you may see to ensure you feel confident when purchasing new energy-efficient equipment for your home.
But first, a quick refresher—what’s the difference between an older HVAC system and one that’s energy-efficient? Older HVAC systems use a single-speed compressor, which means they operate at only one setting—either fully on or fully off. When they’re running, they’re always at full speed, consuming more energy than necessary. In contrast, modern energy-efficient models feature a variable-speed compressor, allowing them to adjust their output based on demand. This energy-efficient system is far more effective, helping you get better performance while using less energy—a win win!
LBDTT (Let’s Break Down The Terms)
So, who gets to decide what “energy-efficient” actually means in the world of HVAC equipment? Actually, there are a few organizations and programs that do just that.
THE WHO’S WHO OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY
- Department of Energy (DOE) – The department of the federal government that oversees the country’s energy rules and regulations. The DOE assesses and implements all energy-efficiency policies at a high level across the nation, including those for HVAC systems.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) – An independent government agency that protects Americans and the environment from significant health risks. The US EPA also oversees the ENERGY STAR® Program with the DOE.
- ENERGY STAR Program/ENERGY STAR Certified – The ENERGY STAR Program was created by the DOE and the US EPA to encourage consumers, businesses, and industries to purchase energy-efficient products and adopt energy-efficient practices. Products that meet the US EPA’s strict energy-efficiency guidelines receive an ENERGY STAR certification. You can find a list of ENERGY STAR certified heating and cooling equipment here.
In addition to the organizations that determine the energy-efficiency rules to follow, you’ll also see many terms referring to metrics that rate how efficient an HVAC system is according to those rules. Some of these metrics rate an air conditioner or heater’s efficiency more generally while others analyze specific aspects of the equipment’s performance, like how well your air conditioner cools your home when it’s sweltering outside.
EFFICIENCY RATING SYSTEMS TO KNOW
- Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) – Tells you how efficiently your furnace is converting energy into heat for your home. A high AFUE rating means that your furnace is heating your home efficiently and not using too much energy.
- Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER/SEER2*) – Shows you how much energy your air conditioning system uses to cool your home in a year. This ratio takes the cooling output of your air conditioning equipment and divides it by the total energy your system uses in a year. The higher the ratio, the better—it means your equipment is using less energy to cool down your home, much like how getting 40 MPG means your car is more energy-efficient than getting 15 MPG.
- Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER/EER2*) – Similar to SEER/SEER2, but refers to how efficiently your air conditioning system runs when the outside temperature is 95º Fahrenheit. Higher ratings mean that your cooling system is more efficient on very hot days—important to keep in mind for those Indiana summers! Local HVAC dealers (like us!) will know the EER/EER2 ratings specific to your area.
- Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF/HSPF2*) – Specifically measures how effective your heat pump is at heating your home during the fall and winter. Like with AFUE ratings, the higher the HSPF rating, the more efficiently your heat pump is working.
*In January 2023, the DOE updated their energy-efficiency requirements and created new SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 rating systems to reflect these new standards. When you see an HVAC system with SEER2, EER2, and/or HSPF2 ratings, this means that the equipment has been manufactured more recently, while SEER, EER, and/or HSPF ratings indicate that the equipment is older.
During your research for energy-efficient HVAC systems, you may also come across terminology related to one specific system—heat pumps. Rather than use a furnace and an air conditioner to regulate the temperature of your home, you can install heat pumps, which both heat your home in the winter and cool it in the summer by transferring heat from the outside to inside and vice versa. (For more info on heat pumps, click here.) Depending on your home type, there are a few heat pump systems to consider.
THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF HEAT PUMPS
- Air-Source – These heat pumps are powered by electricity to transfer heat from outside to inside during the winter and the reverse during the summer. There are several types of air-source heat pumps to consider:
- Ducted Air-Source Heat Pump – Heat pump installed via ductwork, which is great for homes that already have a ducted heating or cooling system. Today’s heat pumps are a solid energy-efficient option—according to the DOE, they can reduce your electricity usage by up to 75% compared to a standard furnace and are also more efficient dehumidifiers than central air conditioning systems.
- Ductless Heat Pump (Mini Split) – Doesn’t need to be connected to ductwork, but rather has an outdoor unit and 1+ units mounted on the wall or ceiling inside. While these heat pumps are not the best at heating or cooling larger spaces, they’re great for homes without existing ductwork, new home additions, or for specific areas that need heating or cooling, like a finished basement. In fact, this zoned approach actually gives you more control over how much energy you’re using from room to room. For example, you can turn up the heat in the living room while you’re watching TV and leave the bedroom cooler while not in use.
- Geothermal – A heat pump that doesn’t use fossil fuels and instead taps into the ground’s natural temperature, transferring heat from the ground to your home and vice versa.
- Absorption (Gas-Fired) – Functions similarly to air-source heat pumps, but instead of using electricity to operate, this pump uses a heat source like natural gas, propane, solar-heated water, or geothermal-heated water. Absorption heat pumps are great for homes who want to reduce the amount of electricity they use, since they rely on alternative energy sources.
Get the Final Word
Whew—as you can see, there’s a lot of lingo out there when it comes to energy-efficient HVAC systems and equipment, but now you know the key terminology in order to take your HVAC shopping in stride.
Remember, too, that our team is always available to answer any questions you may have at any point during your purchasing process. Want to learn what the standard AFUE, SEER2, EER2, and HSPF2 ratings are for central Indiana? We’d love to share. Want our thoughts on whether to go with an air conditioner and a furnace versus a heat pump system? You’ll get our honest advice. Trying to find high-quality equipment to purchase? We only sell models and brands that we would install in our own homes.
We also offer monthly deals on both our equipment and services, which frequently include coupons for hundreds of dollars off new energy-efficient furnaces, air conditioners, or entire HVAC systems. So make sure to check our website each month and feel free to give us a call for more information. Happy shopping!