How you can Calculate HVAC Power Financial savings Just like the Professionals

Are you contemplating changing your older air con and/or heating gear within the hopes of decreasing your vitality payments? In case your gear is 10 years previous or extra, and particularly you probably have had quite a few current restore points, it’s good to look into it. However how a lot HVAC vitality financial savings might you see, and is it value investing in new gear?

On this article, we’ll share a free device utilized by HVAC consultants that makes it straightforward to crunch the numbers. Plus we’ll clarify the phrases and scores used to check new energy-efficient air con and heating gear.

HVAC vitality financial savings: how a lot financial savings will you get with new gear?

In case your HVAC gear is nearing the top of its life span (sometimes 10 years for residential techniques, and nearer to fifteen years for industrial techniques), and it’s been unreliable or under-performing, likelihood is your vitality payments are spiking. That’s as a result of older gear loses effectivity over time. It runs longer to achieve set temperature, which makes use of extra vitality.

Whenever you put money into extra energy-efficient gear, your vitality utilization will go down. The query is, will your HVAC vitality financial savings add as much as sufficient to justify the up-front expense of latest gear? 

To reply that query, you want some affordable estimates of how a lot vitality financial savings you might get by changing gear. And naturally, the gear you select impacts how a lot it can save you. 

So let’s begin with a fast primer on the vitality effectivity phrases and scores used to check the effectivity of latest HVAC gear.

Phrases for evaluating HVAC vitality effectivity

SEER measures vitality effectivity for air conditioners

SEER stands for Seasonal Power Effectivity Ranking. SEER measures the vitality effectivity of cooling gear, calculated primarily based on a seasonal common. Each new unit has been assigned a SEER score, and you’ll examine scores between the completely different items you’re contemplating. A better SEER score means the unit has higher vitality effectivity and decrease electrical energy utilization. 

In response to U.S. Division of Power rules, all new air con techniques put in in our space (New York) will need to have a minimal score of 13. At present’s best central air con techniques have SEER scores between 20 and 28. Warmth pumps and ductless mini-split techniques can have scores of 30 or increased. Likelihood is, your older unit’s SEER score is lower than 10.

AFUE measures vitality effectivity for heating techniques

AFUE stands for Annual Gas Utilization Effectivity. AFUE measures the vitality effectivity of heating gear, particularly furnaces powered by pure fuel, oil, or propane. Like SEER scores for AC items, new heating techniques have AFUE scores that will help you examine the vitality effectivity. Increased AFUE scores imply higher vitality effectivity and decrease gasoline utilization.

The U.S. Division of Power rules set the minimal AFUE at 90 % effectivity for brand spanking new techniques put in within the northern a part of the nation. Many new excessive effectivity fuel furnaces have scores as excessive as 98 %.

A useful device for calculating HVAC vitality financial savings 

So how can you determine how a lot vitality you stand to avoid wasting by upgrading to extra environment friendly gear? A web-based calculator from ServiceTitan, an organization that gives instruments to the HVAC business, makes it easy to get a superb estimate.

How you can calculate HVAC vitality financial savings for brand spanking new AC techniques 

To calculate HVAC vitality effectivity for a brand new air conditioner, you’ll want the next info:

Capability of your current air conditioner. That is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Models), representing the quantity of warmth the unit can take away from the air in an hour. Professionals additionally consult with a unit’s capability as “measurement” nevertheless it has nothing to do with how massive the unit is. Yow will discover it on the unit’s producer label, close to the mannequin and serial quantity.

Value of Electrical energy (KWH). To get an correct estimate, discover out the speed you’re paying for electrical energy per kilowatt hour. Yow will discover this in your electrical energy invoice.

SEER score of your current unit’s SEER score. Search for a yellow “Power Information” sticker in your unit, which exhibits its SEER score. 

SEER scores of latest techniques you’re contemplating. Yow will discover these in gross sales quotes, on product tags, and on product web site pages.

With this info, it’s fast and straightforward to calculate HVAC vitality financial savings. Within the calculator device, choose COOLING on the high. Enter your state, your electrical energy fee, the SEER of your previous unit, and the SEER of a brand new unit you’re contemplating. Then hit CALCULATE. 

The chart on the suitable exhibits you the way a lot cash you’ll save over 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years with a brand new system that has the required SEER score.

You too can simply do the same calculation for a brand new heating system by deciding on the HEATING choice of the highest of the device.

How you can be sure you get the vitality financial savings you count on

It’s essential to appreciate that the calculated HVAC vitality financial savings symbolize optimum values for a system that’s accurately sized, correctly put in, and frequently maintained.

So be sure you work with a trusted skilled to pick and set up your new gear, and don’t neglect common upkeep to maintain your system in good situation.

Study extra about the perfect choices for brand spanking new industrial substitute AC techniques with Arista’s useful information: The Final Information to NYC Gentle Industrial Air Conditioning.

Should you’re within the NYC space, contact Arista for a upkeep settlement estimate.