All heating and cooling appliances carry a federal “Energy Guide” label that rates a unit’s energy efficiency for both cooling and heating modes. These ratings are based on a relative scale; they let you know how a particular model compares to other low- and high-efficiency models.
Manufacturers commonly use two indexes for measuring—Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) for cooling and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) for heating. Both are arrived at through sophisticated testing and reflect performance over an entire season.
The SEER evaluates the efficiency of the heat pump when it is in air-conditioning (cooling) mode. The ratio is calculated based on the amount of cooling generated (measured in BTUs) divided by the amount of electricity used during the cooling season. A high SEER rating indicates a more energy-efficient unit.
 |
 |
|
Why we like it:
• Ships to your door for $197
• Save money year-around with an energy saving SEER of 13
|
|
In the United States, air-conditioning systems must be manufactured with a minimum SEER of 13. These regulations do not guarantee that a new unit you buy will comply; many dealers still have older, less-efficient models in inventory.
The HSPF is a more important number when it comes to warming a house. This is basically the same as the SEER but evaluates additional energy uses like defrosting the unit during winter and back-up heat requirements. In 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy enacted a new standard that required air-source heat pumps to be manufactured with a minimum HSPF rating of 7.7.
ENERGY STAR–qualified heat pumps have a higher SEER and HSPF than standard models; as a result, they are about 8 percent more efficient than standard new models and 20 percent more efficient then older models.
