Given that your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system (HVAC) plays an essential role in satisfying your home’s climate needs, it is also costly to maintain such comfort. This is where energy efficiency comes into play, as it is no longer only about saving your utility bills but also about how economically and carefully you can use the energy resources available.
Even though many homeowners may view energy efficiency ratings as tech jargon with various acronyms, understanding these terms is essential because it allows you to make more informed choices about the maintenance, upgrades, or replacement of your HVAC system. The following paragraphs will discuss these concepts, examining the energy-intensive nature of the HVAC system and the steps one should take to increase its energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency in HVAC Terms
Energy efficiency transforms an HVAC system’s electrical power into heat or coolness without waste. A house that uses an energy-efficient HVAC system can enjoy the same level of comfort with less energy, resulting in lower electricity bills and a lower carbon footprint.
When discussing energy consumption, people often ask why it is necessary to replace old HVAC units. The answer is pretty simple. Imagine you have an older type of air conditioner that cools your home. The older model may still be able to cool and heat your home, but it consumes more energy, which equals a higher utility bill. In HVAC, energy efficiency improvement is the level of system performance that enables the user to get the maximum comfort from a unit of energy, which may be in the form of electricity, gas, or any other source.
HVAC – Energy Efficient Terminology
Everyone should understand some basic concepts about energy efficiency in HVAC systems. These ratings and measurements help you compare different systems and understand how well they will perform regarding energy consumption.
SEER, or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
SEER is a metric used to assess the effectiveness of air conditioning systems, particularly heat pumps. It involves dividing the cooling output, measured in BTUs, by the summation of the electrical energy used. A higher SEER rating means the system will be more efficient. For instance, while older air conditioning models may have a SEER rating as low as 10, opting for a new energy saver can push that SEER rating to 16 and above. The rule of thumb for new systems is a SEER rating of at least 14. Anything above a 20 rating is considered to be high efficiency.
AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency
AFUE informs us of the performance level of a furnace in the destruction of fuel and its use to generate heat. It can also be shown in percent form, and it’s pretty simple as it shows how much fuel the furnace could transform into usable heat efficiently. If a furnace has an AFUE of 90%, for example, 90% of the fuel is used, and only around 10 percent will be lost, generally going out through the exhaust fans. The higher the AFUE figure, the more efficient the furnace.
While an older furnace may have an AFUE evaluation of just 60-70%, modern high-efficiency furnaces have an optimistic AFUE evaluation of 90% and above, so almost all the fuel used warms the house.
HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor)
HSPF is a unique rating system for heat pumps that determines the unit’s heating efficiency in the winter. A higher score on this rating means a better energy performance. Current heat pump models are quite effective; most have HSPF ratings within the 8 to 10 range. A system with a higher rating towards HSPF is superior in heating as it consumes lower amounts of electricity for the same amount of heat.
EER(Energy Efficiency Ratio)
EER is what SEER is, except that EER uses constant temperatures to measure HVAC energy use instead. High energy efficiency is critical in warm regions throughout the month, and air conditioning is used twenty-four-seven. The higher the EER, the better the efficiency ratio of the system tested.
COP (Coefficient of Performance)
The COP helps to determine the efficiency of heat pumps, especially in the case of heating. It measures the system’s heating or cooling output against its energy input. The larger the COP, the more efficient the device is. For instance, when the COP is 3, the heat pump provides three times more heat or cooling than the energy it consumes.
How to Enhance Energy Efficiency of HVAC Systems
We understand that completely replacing an HVAC system may not be practical; thus, we provide suggestions for improving the energy efficiency of the existing units. A slight modification and enhancement can go a long way.
Regular Maintenance
Conducting regular HVAC maintenance is one of the simplest and most basic measures homeowners can take to increase system efficiency. It is also important to have one or two maintenance professionals do routine checks to avoid dirty, poorly adjusted systems, common culprits of efficiency loss.
- Air filter changes when needed, as well as cleaning
- Inspecting the refrigerant levels in the air conditioning unit.
- Conducting a thorough assessment of ducting systems, looking for signs of leakage or blockage.
Taking care of your system ensures that it does not have to put in extra effort, which will lower the power consumption and eventually increase the lifespan of your equipment.
Switching to Energy-Efficient Models
If your HVAC system has lasted more than 10-15 years, you may want to change it. It would be advisable to check out systems with a high SEER, AFUE, or even HSPF rating. Examples of such units include Energy Star-certified HVAC units, which have an Energy Star certification that ensures they adhere to the energy efficiency standards set by the EPA, thus lowering energy use and serving the intended purpose more effectively.
While buying a new system can be costly and time-consuming, the savings on energy bills over time often make it a worthy investment.
Installing Smart Thermostats
A smart thermostat is another alternative that can enhance HVAC energy efficiency in several ways. Numerous smart thermostats come with different features, including scheduling times for heating and cooling and changing temperatures remotely, eliminating the problem of wasting energy when no one is home.
The advanced technology in the thermostats makes it much more convenient. They can automatically learn the users’ preferences and adjust the temperatures according to a schedule. This way, the HVAC system does not work when it does not have to.
Insulating and Sealing
Upgrades to your home’s insulation and proper ductwork sealing can also enhance the efficiency of the HVAC system. Insulation and sealing on the ducts can cause heated or cooled air to escape, rendering the system ineffective in maintaining the set temperature. Insulating your house and sealing all duct leaks will limit heating and cooling losses, making your HVAC system more effective.
Zoning Systems
Zoning systems enable the splitting up of a house into numerous areas, each with a separate thermostat. This, in turn, allows temperature control to be manipulated in particular areas instead of heating and cooling the whole facility. For example, bedrooms can be cooler and often free of outside noise around night while the rest of the house can be around a comfortable temperature during the warm day. This helps reduce energy consumption and ensures that the HVAC system is utilized only where and when it is needed.
Benefits of Energy Efficiency in HVAC Systems
Considering the following advantages, it is worth taking the trouble to use energy-efficient measures when purchasing an HVAC system:
Cost Savings
Many adults would agree that energy savings are one of the most visible and appreciated benefits associated with energy efficiency. Less energy-efficient systems would cost more than a more efficient HVAC system.
Comfort
Such HVAC systems provide peace of mind, knowing that your home is always supplied with soothing and cool air without the headaches of hot and cold spots. Better airflow and humidity levels give consumers a more pleasant living space throughout the year.
Longevity
The operational efficiency of an HVAC unit determines how much strain its components can withstand. Regularly controlled energy-efficient systems only require a few hours of usage and, therefore, should outlast overworked and neglected systems by several years.
When to Think About an Energy-Efficient Upgrade
Knowing when to upgrade a heating and cooling system for energy efficiency can be a challenge, but here are some indications that suggest such a change may be necessary;-
- Increased Energy Cost: Consistently rising energy bills every month despite the same quantity of usage can indicate that the HVAC system has deteriorated.
- More Frequent System Repairs: Old systems experience more breakdowns, and frequent repair and maintenance are signs that a particular system is overworked to achieve a comfortable environment.
- Old HVAC system: Systems older than 10-15 years are probably less energy-efficient than newer models. Changing to a system with a higher SEER, AFUE, or HSPF rating drastically cuts energy costs.
- Temperatures that are not uniform: Do some of the rooms in the house have an underlying problem that makes them hot or cold? If the air distribution system malfunctions, these rooms will likely be overheated or too cold. An energy-efficient upgrade may fix these types of issues.
All in All
Many terms are used to explain energy efficiency in HVAC systems, and understanding them will definitely give you some perspective on the alternatives available for maintaining or upgrading the system. These could be anything from cutting down on your energy bills to getting more comfort in your home or even looking after the environment, and there are many ways in which HVAC performance can be easily improved. If you want to upgrade your home comfort, call Sub Zero Temp Control today to start upgrading to higher energy-efficient standards, equaling more comfort and savings in the long run.