New Air Conditioner Standard
Effective as of January 23, 2006 all new air conditioning units manufactured for sale in the United States must meet higher Department of Energy standards. The new standard calls for the equipment to be a minimum 13 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). This new standard should result in an approximate 30% energy savings for consumers who purchase the equipment for replacement of existing units or when equipment meeting the new standard is specified for new construction..
There is no requirement for homeowners to replace existing units with equipment that meets the new standard. With the average life expectance of an air conditioning being in the 15-20 year range, for most homeowners this new standard will have no effect at all. Should the air conditioning unit need to be serviced, replacement parts for the older standard equipment should be readily available for years to come.
Please remember that this standard is for complete systems manufactured after January 23, 2006. If a homeowner needs to replace part of the system (the outside unit or the inside coil) they may do so and not be held to the new standard. The Department of Energy recommends that the entire system be replaced however does not require it.
Perhaps the best way to view the replacement of an existing unit or part of that unit would be to consider how long the homeowner intends to live in the property. For owners who plan to be in the home for longer periods of time, the monthly savings in utility bills should help offset the expense. For owners who plan a shorter period of time in the home, you have a decision to make. You can save some money now and have higher utility bills or you could upgrade to the more efficient unit and hopefully recover some of the expense by marketing your home as more energy efficient than your competition when you sell.
If you are looking to purchase a new home do not automatically assume that it will be equipped with an air conditioning system that meets the new standard. Equipment manufactured before January 23, 2006 may still be installed by builders. The only way to insure that you will be getting the 13 SEER equipment is to write it into the contract and make sure that everyone is clear about your desire to have the more efficient system(s).
