HVAC Energy Stats

If you are interested in replacing your existing air conditioning system(s), you may find the following information useful

Without the right installation, you could waste 50¢
of every energy dollar and be uncomfortable as well!

North Carolina Alternative Energy Corp.

This nonprofit organization examined air conditioning manufacturers’ efficiencies versus the actual efficiencies that resulted after installation.

• 90% of the units tested exhibited some sort of energy-waste
• 50% had an improper refrigerant charge
• 40% failed to meet minimum air flow criterion. 20% were barely inside the range specified by manufacturers.
• A deficiency of 20% in air flow reduces the SEER rating by 17%.
• A 15% return air leak from a 120¡ attic could reduce a 12 SEER air conditioner to 6 SEER. In other words, it cuts the efficiency in half!

Texas A&M University

found a 23% refrigerant undercharge could result in a 52% efficiency loss.

Pacific Gas & Electric

reported these average heating energy savings:

• 15% savings for repair of disconnected ducts
• 7.5% savings for repair of diffuser leakage
• 5.6% savings for correcting low air flow
• 18.4% savings for leak repair and correcting refrigerant charge

Lakeland Electric & Water

researches found that by repairing leaking duct work, cooling energy was reduced by an average of 17.4%.

Louisiana State University and Gulf States Utilities

found consumers could save about $30 per month just by making sure that their air conditioning system was cleaned and serviced regularly.

HVAC manufacturer’s

data shows that a condensing unit with a SEER of 13 matched with an old air handler would decrease the SEER to 9.2, resulting in 30% less efficiency.