Memorial Day weekend is coming up, marking the unofficial start of the summer. As the weather starts to warm up, you may be thinking about upgrading your AC to a newer-high efficiency model. According to statistics, of the energy used in U.S. homes in 2015, 55% of it was used for heating and cooling. So, how do you choose a new AC system that is right for your home and also helps you save money on utility bills?
Read on to see some factors you should consider when choosing an energy-efficient air conditioner.
1) Size of Your Living Space
When homeowners think about air conditioners, they either ignore size and cooling power of the AC unit or think that bigger is better. In reality, an air conditioner that is improperly sized (too big or too small) could be causing high energy charges and inefficient cooling. Read our guide to determine what size AC is right for your living space, or contact our AC specialists to find the right AC for your home.
2) Compare Energy Efficiency Ratings
All AC units come with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER), which is the ratio of the cooling output of your air conditioner divided by the energy it uses. The higher the SEER, the greater the air conditioner’s efficiency. Even slight increases in SEER rating can lead to significant energy savings.
You may also see an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is a measure of how well an HVAC device uses energy. A higher EER rating means that an air conditioner will provide a lot of cooling effect for every Watt of energy you provide.
Since January 2023, the DOE replaced SEER with a new standard called SEER2, which uses updated testing conditions designed to more accurately reflect real-world operating performance. All new residential AC equipment sold today carries a SEER2 rating rather than a SEER rating. SEER2 values are numerically slightly lower than their SEER equivalents under the old standard, so a SEER2 14.3 is roughly equivalent to a former SEER 15. When comparing units, make sure you’re comparing SEER2 to SEER2 rather than mixing the two standards.
Pro tip: look for the blue ENERGY STAR® certification. This indicates that the AC unit meets federally mandated guidelines regarding energy efficiency.
3) Consider Smart Technology
Newer AC models come with smart technology and can be Wi-Fi enabled, connect with smart thermostats, and even be used using digital assistants. This makes it easy to adjust temperatures and save costs when you’re not home, or not using your air conditioning system.
4) Consider Your Local Environment and Materials
Efficiency ratings and smart features matter, but so does where the equipment will actually be operating. Two environmental factors that buyers frequently overlook:
Humidity management. In humid climates, an oversized AC unit can create a different problem than most homeowners expect. A system that’s too large cools the air quickly and cycles off before completing a full dehumidification pass, leaving rooms feeling clammy even when the thermostat reads correctly. In the Northeast, and particularly in coastal communities where outdoor humidity is consistently elevated throughout summer, sizing for dehumidification performance carries as much weight as raw cooling capacity.
Corrosion resistance for coastal properties. Standard condenser coils are typically aluminum or copper, both of which degrade faster in salt-air environments. Homeowners within a few miles of the coast should specifically ask about units with factory-applied corrosion-resistant coatings on outdoor components, or about aftermarket coating applied at installation. A high SEER2 rating means very little if the condenser is significantly corroded within four or five years due to coastal exposure.
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For homeowners weighing an AC upgrade in Rye, NY and coastal Westchester, all four factors above carry added weight. High summer humidity makes proper sizing critical. Salt air makes material selection and corrosion protection a real part of the decision. And with Con Edison utility rates, the efficiency calculation directly impacts what you spend every month for the life of the equipment.
A. Borrelli Mechanical’s licensed technicians serve Westchester County homeowners with equipment selection, installation, and the ongoing seasonal maintenance that protects coastal systems from accelerated wear. Contact us to schedule a free consultation.
