If your air conditioner isn’t going to survive the summer, or if you’re looking to replace your aging furnace or boiler in advance of winter’s arrival, you have a lot to gain by choosing appliances with superior energy efficiency. Not only do energy-efficient home heating and cooling appliances save you money by reducing your electricity and utility bills, but they also help the environment by putting less strain on the power grid and demanding less electricity, all while providing you with the same high levels of indoor comfort.
To guide you when shopping for heating and cooling appliances, look for the Energy Star symbol. The Energy Star program is the brainchild of the federal government, and it was designed to give consumers a quick and easy way to identify products with superior energy efficiency ratings. To earn the seal, a product must conform to a rigid set of guidelines, including:
- Energy efficiencies that exceed minimum government guidelines by at least 10 percent
- The use of non-exclusive energy efficient technologies to ensure customers have choices when it comes to models, brands and manufacturers
- A pledge to compensate for any difference in price between the Energy Star model and a less efficient model through reduced electricity costs
Two other important metrics you should know about when shopping for air conditioners and furnaces include “SEER” and “AFUE,” respectively. “SEER” stands for “seasonal energy efficiency ratio,” and is applied to air conditioners. “AFUE” stands for “annual fuel utilization efficiency,” and is applied to home heating equipment. Both metrics essentially express how much of the electrical input is converted to treated air; in both cases, the higher the rating, the more efficient the appliance. Consider these ratings in addition to looking for the government’s Energy Star.
At Roth Heating & Cooling, Plumbing, Electrical, Drain Services, we help residents of the Portland area improve home energy efficiency and make judicious selections when it comes to replacing heating and cooling equipment. If you have questions about Energy Star heating and cooling appliances, or if you’d like to take advantage of our expertise and highly competitive prices, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (503) 266-1249.
