What is the efficiency of an air conditioner and how can one calculate how efficient an air conditioner is?

To answer these questions you have to find out your efficiency or what efficiency you’re trying to achieve. Your efficiency is determined by two different equations: SEER and EER. When determining efficiency I like to look at EER for that is how efficient an air conditioner is at a given time, and SEER is how efficient it roughly is throughout an entire season. EER basically shows how much energy consumed is converted into BTUs.

What is SEER?

SEER, which is an acronym for seasonal energy efficiency rating, is a measurement used to describe the efficient use of energy by air conditioners. The measurement is defined and regulated by the Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. It is measured in BTUs (British thermal units) per watt-hour of electric energy used in a given cooling season (during the summer months). SEER is determined by calculating a simple equation.

Step 1

Find the BTUs per hour of your air conditioner. This value can be found either on the air conditioner itself or in the owner’s manual that accompanied the air conditioner.

Step 2

Find the number of watts used per hour for your air conditioner. This value can be also found either on the air conditioner itself or in the owner’s manual that accompanied the air conditioner.

Step 3

Calculate the number of BTUs used in the summer months. Use 1,000 hours, which equates to about 125 days or four months, to represent the late spring and summer months when air conditioners are used. Multiply the number from step one by 1,000 to get the number of BTUs used in the summer months.

Step 4

Calculate the number of watts-hours used in the summer months by multiplying the number from step two by 1,000.

Step 5

Divide the BTUs used in the summer months (the result of step three) by the number of watts-hours consumed in the summer months (the result of step three) to arrive at the SEER rating.

IN SHORT, IT MEANS HOW MUCH ENERGY USED PER COOLING CAPACITY THROUGHOUT AN ENTIRE COOLING SEASON.

What is EER?

The Energy Efficiency Ratio – EER – is a term generally used to define cooling efficiency of unitary air-conditioning and heat pump system.

The efficiency is determined at a single rated condition specified by an appropriate equipment standard and is defined as the ratio of net cooling capacity – or heat removed in Btu/h – to the total input rate of electric power applied – in Watts. The units of EER are Btu/Wh.

EER = Ec / Pa (3)

where

EER = energy efficient ratio (Btu/Wh)

Ec = net cooling capacity (Btu/h)

Pa = applied electrical power (Watts)

This efficiency term typically includes the energy requirement of auxiliary systems such as the indoor and outdoor fans.

higher EER – more efficient system

*IN SHORT, IT MEANS HOW EFFICIENTLY YOUR AIR CONDITIONER CAN COOL YOUR HOME PER WATT throughout an entire season.