What is the EER rating ?

How is the EER calculated on an air conditioner?

If you are looking for an air conditioner or a heat pump, you have probably already heard of or simply noticed the abbreviation EER. The term EER stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio. In French, you will find the abbreviation TRÉ which means Energy Efficiency Rate.

The EER is calculated using an outdoor temperature of 35°C, an indoor temperature of 26°C and a humidity level of 50%. No seasonal temperature changes are considered in the rating of a unit’s EER.

The difference between EER and SEER

If you look on a spec sheet for an air conditioner’s SEER rating, then you know that the SEER is a good approximation of the unit’s energy efficiency if the average summer temperature in your area is around 28°C. C, but can be misleading if you live in Southern California or very hot areas. Conversely, the EER value is a standard set that can be used to directly compare air conditioning units without worrying about seasonal changes in your area.

The EER unlike the SEER is mainly used by refrigeration technicians to obtain real information on the general performance of the air conditioner. In other words, the EER is used by engineers and technicians and the SEER is used for marketing.

The EER is actually an energy efficiency ratio that each appliance is rated according to their performance. In other words, the higher the EER, the less energy the device will consume. SEER energy efficiency is the ratio of cooling power (BTU/h) divided by the appliance’s gross energy consumption (Watt/h or kWh).

Is the EER so important?

At first glance, the term EER doesn’t mean much, but if you compare the different rates, there can be a huge difference in energy consumption between air conditioning units over a lifetime. 20 years old. However, it is extremely important to weigh the investment costs of purchasing the device against the profitability of the device in the long term. It is obvious that it is useless to buy a device with a high efficiency rate if you intend to move in 2-3 years, because the cost of buying the device will obviously be high and the next owner of your home will benefit from the energy savings of your air conditioner.

If you plan to stay in your home for several years, buying an air conditioning unit with a high energy efficiency rate will have several benefits.

First, your air conditioner will consume much less energy during the summer season compared to an appliance with a lower EER.

Second, devices with a high EER are usually considered “high end” devices so your device will necessarily have a high HSPF and high SEER (what is HSPF) (what is SEER). This will save you a lot of money for the heating and cooling season. It is important to consider the HSPF of heat pumps if you live in Quebec, because we must not forget that we have about 3-4 months of summer and 8-9 months of cold weather. HSPF will save you more on energy consumption compared to SEER.

Third, appliances with a high EER are generally built by industry-recognized manufacturers who have many years of experience in designing air conditioning and heating appliances. To achieve high energy efficiency, manufacturers must use the best parts and components to achieve high performance efficiencies. So this assures you that your device is built with quality materials.

Finally, the purchase of an air conditioner is not an easy task, in particular because of their acquisition costs. It is therefore important that you are well advised according to your needs, your current situation and your budget.