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- What is the SEER Rating for HVAC Systems?
- How Does SEER Differ From SEER2 and EER Ratings?
- Minimum SEER Rating in 2023 by State and Region
- Choosing the Right SEER Rating for Your Home
- SEER Rating by HVAC System
- Converting SEER to SEER2 Ratings
- Why Are SEER Ratings Important for Your Home HVAC Systems?
- Frequently Asked Questions about SEER Ratings
One of the most important aspects of choosing an HVAC system for your home or business is its Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER). The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) continually updates energy-efficiency requirements for a wide range of home appliances, including air conditioning units, heat pumps, and furnaces. In 2023, the DoE also introduced a new SEER standard — SEER2.
Here’s what you need to know about minimum SEER ratings for 2023, as well as the new SEER2 standards.
What is the SEER Rating for HVAC Systems?
Your HVAC unit’s SEER rating is a measurement of its energy efficiency (heat pumps and mini-split systems have a different energy efficiency measurement — HSPF — because they both heat and cool the home).
Here’s the formula used to calculate the SEER rating for HVAC systems:
Energy usage per hour / British Thermal Units (BTUs) of heat removed per hour
HVAC systems are tested in a variety of operating conditions in temperatures ranging from 60 to 100 degrees. SEER ratings vary by geographical region since some hot climates — Florida, Southern Texas, Arizona — have greater cooling needs than more temperate northern climates.
How Does SEER Differ From SEER2 and EER Ratings?
Most air conditioning units in use today will have SEER rating since SEER2 only went into effect on January 1, 2023. We’ll jump into minimum SEER ratings for 2023 by region a bit later. For now, let’s look at how SEER differs from SEER2.
As mentioned earlier, an HVAC unit’s SEER rating is a measurement of how much energy it uses divided by how much heat (in BTUs) is removed from a room in an hour’s time. SEER2 simply takes the testing process a bit further by increasing the amount of static pressure used during the testing process.
Think of static pressure as resistance to airflow. Static pressure could stem from closed vents, obstructions in the ductwork, dirty filters or anything else that makes the HVAC unit’s blower work harder. SEER testing used .1 inches of static pressure, while SEER2 more accurately reflects real-world operating conditions with .5 inches of static pressure.
An EER rating, meanwhile, is a measure of energy efficiency for freestanding room or window insert air conditioners.
Minimum SEER Rating in 2023 by State and Region
SEER ratings were increased slightly beginning in 2023. All new air conditioning units must have a minimum SEER rating of 14, a step up from the prior standard of 13. The increase translates to an approximately 8 to 10 percent additional energy savings. HVAC units with higher SEER ratings offer homeowners greater energy savings, but they also will cost more upfront.
Here are minimum SEER ratings for 2023 by region and state:
North Region
Here are all the states that are considered in SEER ratings for the Northern region. They are organized alphabetically.
- Alaska
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New York
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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Old SEER Rating | New SEER Rating | SEER2 Rating |
---|---|---|
13 SEER | 14 SEER | 13.4 SEER2 |
Southeast Region
Below, you’ll find an alphabetical list of states that are in the Southeast region for SEER ratings.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- Oklahoma
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
Old SEER Rating | New SEER Rating | SEER2 Rating |
---|---|---|
14 SEER | 15 SEER | 14.5 SEER2 |
Southwest Region
There are just a few states in the Southwest region:
- Arizona
- California
- New Mexico
- Nevada
Old SEER Rating | New SEER Rating | SEER2 Rating |
---|---|---|
14 SEER | 15 SEER | 14.3 SEER2 |
Note: Smaller air conditioning units under 3.5-ton capacity in Southwest and Southeast regions may have slightly lower SEER and SEER2 requirements. In both regions, those ratings are 14.5 SEER and 13.8 SEER2.
Choosing the Right SEER Rating for Your Home
When choosing a new air conditioning unit for your home, bigger doesn’t always mean better. You have to take into account the total square footage that needs to be cooled.
Purchasing a unit that’s too big for a small area will not work efficiently — it will overcompensate. Conversely, buying a unit that’s too small to cool a larger area means it will work overtime, run up your utility bill, and place unnecessary strain on the unit. You’ll also need to take into account how long you plan to stay in your home. Purchasing an AC unit with a higher SEER or SEER2 rating will cost more, and you likely won’t recoup your investment if you only stay in the house for a few years.
SEER Rating by HVAC System
There are four main types of HVAC systems:
- Furnace and air conditioning unit.
- Furnace and heat pump.
- Heat pump.
- Ductless mini-split.
Some homeowners also elect to install geothermal heat pumps where there are sufficient geothermal resources to support their operation.
As noted earlier, all new AC units (including ductless mini split systems) must meet the minimum SEER rating in 2023 of 14 SEER/13.4 SEER2. The standard for heat pumps, however, has increased to 15 SEER/14.3 SEER2.
Converting SEER to SEER2 Ratings
As a rough rule, there’s about a difference of 4.5 between SEER and SEER2 ratings. The table below clearly defines the differences between the two standards:
SEER Rating | SEER2 Rating |
---|---|
12 | 11.5 |
13 | 12.4 |
14 | 13.4 |
15 | 14.3 |
16 | 15.3 |
17 | 16.2 |
18 | 17.2 |
19 | 18.1 |
20 | 19.1 |
21 | 20.1 |
Why Are SEER Ratings Important for Your Home HVAC Systems?
In a nutshell, a higher SEER/SEER2 rating means greater energy efficiency. It’s a bit like sizing for a television – a 65-inch television has almost a 40-percent greater viewing area than a 55-inch model (and costs more as well).
The table below shows your potential energy savings if you purchase AC units with higher SEER2 ratings:
SEER2 Rating | Increased Energy Efficiency |
---|---|
13.4 | 0% |
14.3 | 6% |
15.2 | 12% |
16 | 16% |
18 | 26% |
A higher SEER2 rating means your unit will operate more efficiently and consume less energy. Some manufacturers sell AC units with a 21.5 SEER2 rating, but it’s important to note that the high rating is a maximum — the unit may not reach that high of efficiency in your home due to its operating conditions. Think of vehicle fuel ratings — your car will get much better mileage driving across the plains of Kansas than in the mountains of Colorado.
Frequently Asked Questions about SEER Ratings
Find the Right Contractor for Your HVAC Project
Whether you’re ready to begin your project now or need some expert advice, our network of contractors are here to help. With a few simple questions, we’ll find the best local professionals for you