How A lot Electrical energy (Kilowatts) Does My AC Actually Use?  

Know the Info About Your System and the Advantages of a Newer One 

In at present’s world, most individuals need to save power, and everyone needs to economize in terms of their HVAC system. In addition to, “how a lot electrical energy does my present air conditioner actually use?” might be some of the frequent questions requested of any heating and air-con skilled. Whereas it includes some heavy lifting in terms of math, it’s comparatively straightforward to calculate if you know the way.

Earlier than we get to the maths, the fast reply is that it begins with figuring out the quantity of energy you utilize together with your HVAC– a calculation defined beneath. After getting that quantity, you multiply it by the point of utilization.

We’ll let Air-Tro CEO Bob Helbing clarify: 

“It comes all the way down to a system utilizing the fundamental measure for seasonal effectivity for air conditioners : the Seasonal Power Effectivity Ratio. This calculation additionally makes use of a numerator measured in BTUs, whereas the denominator is in watt-hours. It’s a mixture of imperial and metric measurements which could appear complicated at first, however bear with me.”

“To calculate value of power output, first take your system’s BTU capability (for a 3-ton unit, that’s 3 x 12,000 BTU/hr. or 36k BTU/hr.) and divide by its SEER  score (let’s say it’s 12 for an older unit) and also you’ll get an electrical energy consumption of three,000 watt-hrs. or 3 kilowatt hrs. At Southern California Edison peak charges of 53 cents per watt hour, meaning it’s going to value you $1.59 an hour to run. Remember the fact that as your HVAC system will get older, your SEER score could have gone down when it comes to effectivity. What was SEER-rated 16 ten years in the past could also be 12 now.

To determine your annual value of AC, take into account that a mean “cooling load” (i.e., the overall variety of hours you spend working the air-con) might be one thing like 1,500 hours per yr. $1.59 x 1,500 peak-rate hours could be $2,385 {dollars} per yr to maintain your own home cool. Now, it’s unlikely that every one your air-con wants might be throughout peak hours, so name it $2,000.

When contemplating a brand new unit, let’s assume you buy a system in 2022 that’s rated at 24 SEER, not the 12 of your previous gear. Now, you’re halving the price of your AC operation per yr to $1,000.”

In abstract, as you may think, newer air-con techniques are much more power environment friendly and thus use much less energy to take care of indoor consolation than the merchandise of years previous. In different phrases, at present’s HVAC does extra and prices much less to run. In case your older system is getting increasingly more costly when it comes to its annual electrical energy prices to take care of indoor consolation, coupled with the worth of any new repairs it might want, chances are you’ll discover that purchasing a brand new one is way extra economical.

Have questions on your HVAC system and the very best methods to avoid wasting on working and sustaining it? Name the specialists at Air-Tro at present. We’ve been the heating and air-con execs for the San Gabriel Valley since 1969! Name us at present at (626)357-3535.