Without the right installation...
You could waste 50¢ of every energy dollar and be uncomfortable as well!
North Carolina Alternative Energy Corp.
This nonprofit organization examined air conditioning manufacturers' efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that resulted after installation.
90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy-waste
50% had an improper refrigerant charge
40% failed to meet minimum air flow criterion. 20% were barely inside the range specified by manufacturers.
A deficiency of 20% in air flow reduces the SEER rating by 17%.
A 15% return air leak from a 120¡ attic could reduce a 12 SEER air conditioner to 6 SEER. In other words, it cuts the efficiency in half!
Texas A&M University
found a 23% refrigerant undercharge could result in a 52% efficiency loss.
Pacific Gas & Electric
reported these average heating energy savings:
15% savings for repair of disconnected ducts
7.5% savings for repair of diffuser leakage
5.6% savings for correcting low air flow
18.4% savings for leak repair and correcting refrigerant charge
Lakeland Electric & Water
researches found that by repairing leaking duct work, cooling energy was reduced by an average of 17.4%.
Honeywell
found that heat pumps lost almost 50% of their efficiency after 20 years, even if typical "dust stop" filter was installed. In 20 years, a 12 SEER unit could degrade to a 6 SEER. This would double the energy cost!
Louisiana State University and Gulf States Utilities
found consumers could save about $30 per month just by making sure that their air conditioning system was cleaned and serviced regularly.
HVAC manufacturer's
data shows that a condensing unit with a SEER of 13 matched with an old air handler would decrease the SEER to 9.2, resulting in 30% less efficiency.
Without the right installation...
You could waste 50¢ of every energy dollar and be uncomfortable as well!
North Carolina Alternative Energy Corp.
This nonprofit organization examined air conditioning manufacturers' efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that resulted after installation.
90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy-waste
50% had an improper refrigerant charge
40% failed to meet minimum air flow criterion. 20% were barely inside the range specified by manufacturers.
A deficiency of 20% in air flow reduces the SEER rating by 17%.
A 15% return air leak from a 120¡ attic could reduce a 12 SEER air conditioner to 6 SEER. In other words, it cuts the efficiency in half!
Texas A&M University
found a 23% refrigerant undercharge could result in a 52% efficiency loss.
Pacific Gas & Electric
reported these average heating energy savings:
15% savings for repair of disconnected ducts
7.5% savings for repair of diffuser leakage
5.6% savings for correcting low air flow
18.4% savings for leak repair and correcting refrigerant charge
Lakeland Electric & Water
researches found that by repairing leaking duct work, cooling energy was reduced by an average of 17.4%.
Honeywell
found that heat pumps lost almost 50% of their efficiency after 20 years, even if typical "dust stop" filter was installed. In 20 years, a 12 SEER unit could degrade to a 6 SEER. This would double the energy cost!
Louisiana State University and Gulf States Utilities
found consumers could save about $30 per month just by making sure that their air conditioning system was cleaned and serviced regularly.
HVAC manufacturer's
data shows that a condensing unit with a SEER of 13 matched with an old air handler would decrease the SEER to 9.2, resulting in 30% less efficiency.