The last time you purchased an AC, you probably considered the unit’s SEER before deciding to buy it. SEER rating, of course, is a standard for gauging an air conditioner’s efficiency. It’s an acronym for “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” with higher SEER numbers indicating a more efficient AC.
But starting on January 1, 2023, SEER won’t be the standard anymore. Instead, every new AC will receive a SEER2 rating. A higher SEER2 will still be more efficient than a lower SEER2. However, SEER2 is calculated much differently from SEER. It’s an all-new standard.
WHAT IS SEER2 ALL ABOUT?
The whole point of SEER2 is to make up for deficiencies in the way SEER was calculated. You see, the US Department of Energy (DOE) sets the standards for appliance efficiency and issues extremely precise guidance on how manufacturers need to calculate the relative efficiency of their equipment. The standards for SEER were established many years ago, and manufacturers have been abiding by them ever since. However, there were always problems with SEER.
An updated test procedure, intended to reflect field condition more accurately, is driving the new “2” ratings. The new M1 testing regimen includes changes for minimum air handler static pressure; fan power for coil-only units; heating load calculation; heating mode test; variable-speed factor for SEER2 ratings; and off-mode power test. In other words, the way SEER considers static pressure as part of its overall calculation isn’t realistic. SEER2 still accounts for static pressure, but in a way that’s more in line with how systems are set up out in the wild (e.g., your house).
HOW DOES SEER2 AFFECT ME?
Every AC available for purchase in the Southeast (that’s our region) starting in 2023 will have a minimum SEER2 of 14.3. This equates to 15 SEER under the current system, so the least efficient unit you can buy in 2023 will be more efficient than the least efficient unit you can buy in 2022. (Minimum SEER2 for Southwestern states will also be 14.3; for Northern states, the minimum SEER2 will be 13.4).
New air conditioners will be more expensive. It just costs more to manufacture a more efficient system. Facts of life, right? If you’re buying a new air conditioner in 2022, you’ll have to decide whether it makes sense to install a new 14 SEER unit.
GO FORTH AND USE THESE SEER2 INSIGHTS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE!
If you’re not on the cusp of an air conditioner replacement right now, you might not care all that much about SEER vs. SEER2. That’s fine. You can think more about SEER2 whenever it does come time to replace your AC. But if you are thinking about getting a new unit this year, you’ve got a decision to make! You can go the less expensive route and get a 14 SEER system, or you can get a 15 or 16 SEER unit to ensure you’re compliant with the upcoming SEER2 guidelines.
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