Energy Savings Calculator

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15 Years Total Savings: $0

Total Annual Savings: $0

 

 

ENERGY SAVING WITH YOUR A/C

Choosing the right size air conditioner is very important to achieve the right efficiency. At the end, it all comes down to feeling comfortable with the room temperature according to the capacity as well as with the amount being paid in electric bills. The "Energy Savings Calculator" tool we have developed for your use will help identify the most cost-effective option for your home.

When choosing an air conditioner, the contractor should guide you towards the best investment in a 10-15-year period for non-ducted systems, and a 15-20-year period for ducted systems. Some equipment can even save you money during the first year. Factors such as the region/state where one lives, the height of the room, the local climate, shading and window size are important to consider when selecting an air conditioner. These elements impact on the air conditioner’s efficiency. "An air conditioner's efficiency is measured by the energy efficiency ratio (EER). The higher the EER rating, the more efficient the air conditioner."1 Another way of measuring efficiency is "SEER" which is known as the "Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio". In other words, the higher the SEER, the less electricity the system needs to work, therefore providing more savings to your pocket.
The minimum SEER required today in USA is SEER 14, but we can find much higher efficiencies in the market. Choosing which SEER is the best for your need, is the big question. Of course, budget is an important factor, so the higher the SEER, the more expensive the equipment will be.
The "Energy Savings Calculator" tool shows you an approximation of how much money you can save when you compare two different efficiencies. You would first need to select the region in which you live in, then you need to input the value of the energy you pay, this value is in cents/kWh. Third, you select the capacity of the equipment you wish to compare. Fourth, you need to select the old A/C SEER, or the actual A/C installed in your home, then select the New A/C SEER, for the one you wish to purchase. Finally, press on Filter Results.

This will show you the savings in 5, 10, and 15-year periods. For example, let’s say you live in Region #1 and the price of the energy you use is $0.24 per kW/h. Now you choose the old A/C you are planning to change which for the example will be 36,000 Btu A/C of SEER 10, and you are looking forward to installing a new 36,000 BTU multisplit system of SEER 21. The budget available for the new equipment is $5,000 dollars. The results show that you will save approximately $5,810 on your energy bill on the first 5 years, therefore making the investment totally worthwhile. The cost of the new equipment (ROI) will be paid in less than 5 years, when their life span is of 10 to 15 years. So, if your new equipment lasts for 15 years, after the 5th year you will be saving an estimate of $10,147 in energy in period of 15 years.