As a homeowner or renter who pays for their own electricity
consumption, the high efficiency air conditioner debate centers around
three questions:
- Why should the new standard be 13 SEER instead of 12 SEER?
- How much more will it cost me?
- How much more am I going to save?
The 13 SEER unit is 8% more efficient than a 12 SEER unit and 30%
more efficient than a 10 SEER unit, the current minimum since 1992. Since
a 13 SEER unit is 8% more efficient than a 12 SEER, the consumer will save
even more on their electric bills, each and every month for the life of
the unit for a relatively small initial investment.
Let's use Houston figures as an example:
| Price Difference between Goodman 13 SEER and 12 SEER Systems | $176* |
| Energy cost savings of 13 SEER vs. 6 SEER efficiency level for One Year | $760** |
| Payback on 13 SEER/12 SEER Price Difference | 3 months |
| Net Present Value of 13 SEER over 10 SEER
Over Five Years at 8% interest |
$187 |
| Net Present Value of 13 SEER over 10 SEER
Over Ten Years at 8% interest |
$719 |
*Quote from a local Goodman dealer for the equipment price difference between a three-ton, 12 SEER system and a 13 SEER system includes the external condensing unit and the interior evaporator coil.
**Estimate is based on current summer electricity rate for Houston is $0.112/KWR (kilowatt hour) and a 10% rate increase per year. Assumes 2,100 hours annually of electricity used for cooling taken from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Program's Climate Map listing Houston in Cooling Climate Region 10. Figures are for comparison only. Actual costs will vary according to personal use habits, square footage, location, how the unit is installed and home construction.
Call AllTemp Heating & Cooling to find out how to get more SEER for your money with Goodman air conditioners and heat pumps.
