St. Louis area homeowners spend about $1,000 per year on heating and cooling, which makes up approximately half of our entire energy bills. By installing an Energy Star air conditioner, you can cut down on your home’s utility costs while also helping the environment. So what is Energy Star and how does an air conditioner qualify for the Energy Star label?
What is Energy Star?
Energy star is a governmentally-backed program that was created by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. Its purpose is to make it easy for consumers to purchase products that are energy-efficient while still meeting standards for performance and comfort.
What are the features of an Energy Star air conditioner?
For an air conditioner to be given the Energy Star label, it must meet strict guidelines for energy efficiency that are set by the EPA. First, the unit must have a SEER rating of at least 14 and an EER of at least 11. These minimums are about 14 percent more efficient than standard models, and Energy Star air conditioners are available with much higher SEER and EER ratings.
What are the benefits of installing an Energy Star air conditioner?
There are three major benefits of installing an Energy Star air conditioner. These units can:
- Save you money on your utility bills. Upgrading to a higher efficiency air conditioner can save you a substantial amount of money on your energy bills, especially if you currently have an older unit. If your current air conditioner is more than 12 years old, you can cut your energy bills by 30 percent by installing an Energy Star air conditioner.
- Cut down on greenhouse gasses. One of the main purposes behind creating Energy Star was to reduce greenhouse gasses and help combat global warming. When your air conditioner uses less energy, it also cuts down on the number of greenhouse gasses that are released into the Earth’s atmosphere.
- Maximize comfort levels in your home. Energy Star air conditioners are not only known for their energy efficiency but also their quality. When you install an air conditioner with the Energy Star label, you can be sure that it passed all the criteria for comfort and performance that homeowners expect from their cooling systems.
If you have any questions about an Energy Star air conditioner, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Louis area heating and cooling company.
