What is SEER2?

Introducing New SEER Standards for 2023:

View the 2023 Product Transitions regions here.

What SEER2 Means for AC and Heat Pump Efficiency

Air conditioners and heat pumps, much like automobiles use MPG, are rated for their energy efficiency using 2 older standards, EER and SEER. And the latest version, known as SEER2 takes effect January 1, 2023.

What is SEER2 and how will it affect the industry and you as a consumer?

Let’s begin by outlining the 2 older standards as well as the new SEER2 standard.

What is an EER rating?

EER is an acronym for energy efficiency ratio. EER was the original way that the energy efficiency (or lack thereof) of an air conditioning system was measured. This is a measure of how much electricity (wattage) a given conditioning system consumes on an hourly basis. This measurement is achieved using the following standards:

A set ambient (outdoor) temperature of 95° F
A set indoor temperature to be achieved of 80°
A relative humidity level of 50% within the space being measured

EER measures the actual BTU output of an air conditioning system. EER is determined by dividing this rated BTU output by the hourly wattage consumption.

So, if a system produces 24,000 BTU (hourly) and consumes 2400 watts of electricity per hour, 24,000 divided by 2400 = 10 or 10 EER.

A higher EER indicated a more energy efficient system, or less utility consumption per hour.

What is a SEER rating?

Until January 2023 this is (was) the way air conditioners were rated for energy efficiency. This allowed the consumer to compare how efficient one AC system was compared to another. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This standard measures a systems energy usage over an entire season using different outdoor and indoor conditions, such as indoor and outdoor temperature and humidity based on a variety of outdoor conditions. This is achieved by measuring the average EER over a range of indoor and outdoor temperatures, and across varying humidity levels, to simulate the run of an entire season. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit is.

This is achieved by measuring the average EER over a range of indoor and outdoor temperatures, and across varying humidity levels, to simulate the run of an entire season. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit is.

It is a much more accepted and valid indicator of how much energy a system will consume over the course of a year.

How are SEER and EER different?

While EER simply measures an air conditioning systems energy efficiency during peak, high demand conditions, SEER measures it under more real-world conditions based on an entire cooling season.

Smaller, self-contained systems such as wall and window units used for a single room are still measured using EER.

The more powerful split and packaged systems (including mini splits) have used SEER as the energy efficiency standard since the 1980’s.

In addition, unlike EER, there is a minimum SEER rating for residential air conditioners and heat pumps sold in the US.

Federal minimum SEER standards vary based on temperature and locality by state. For example, the cooler, northern states have required a system to be 13 SEER minimum. Southern, southeastern and southwestern states are warmer and therefore have been held to a slightly higher minimum SEER of 14.

These minimum standards are subject to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

These minimum standards will be increased nationally in January 2023.

What are the new SEER standards for 2023?

On January 1, 2023, the federal minimum SEER will increase by 1 point for all regions, including all centrally ducted split and packaged air conditioners as well as heat pumps.

SEER2 is the new efficiency standard as of January 2023

SEER2 changes the way energy efficiency is measured as well as increasing the minimum standard all central air conditioning systems much achieve. The new standard includes all components used to produce cooling centrally in a given space.

It is felt that the newly revised SEER2 is a more accurate indicator of an AC systems energy efficiency and consumption. The revised standards now include real-world conditions such as commonly imperfect duct systems and the loss of airflow that can be created by what’s known as external static pressure with every duct air delivery system.

What is SEER2? How will it affect homeowners and consumers?

Existing systems installed prior to January 2023 are not in any way affected. Only systems installed after January 2023 will be subject to the new SEER2 standards.

Keep in mind that the standard is applied differently in northern and southern regions based on installation or manufacturing dates. Northern states will determine compliance based on the actual manufacturing date of a system being installed. This means as long as the systems being installed meet the prior SEER standard in effect just prior to January 2023 they are allowed.

Southern states are held to a more stringent standard as the actual date of installation will be applied to the new SEER2 standards, meaning systems manufactured prior to January 2023 will NOT comply unless they meet the SEER2 standards.