On January 1, 2023, new minimum efficiency standards took effect for air conditioners and heat pumps. The US Department of Energy (DOE) has enacted this change in an ongoing effort to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. This is the first update to heat pump and AC efficiency standards since 2015. All newly manufactured units must comply with the updated standards, but homeowners are not required to replace existing HVAC equipment. Here’s everything you need to know about the new AC federal regulations as a Colorado resident.
AC Efficiency Ratings are Going Up
Seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, is an efficiency rating that describes how well an air conditioner uses electricity to remove heat from a building. Between 2015 and 2022, the minimum rating for air conditioners in the North, including Colorado, was 13 SEER. Units installed in the South had to be 14 SEER or higher. In 2023, the efficiency standard increased to 14 SEER in the North and 15 SEER in the South.
It’s important to note that less efficient equipment manufactured before January 1, 2023, can still be installed in Colorado and the rest of the Northern US until supplies are depleted. The rules are stricter in the South, where less efficient systems built in 2022 or earlier cannot be installed now that the new efficiency deadline has passed.
Heat Pump Efficiency Ratings are Going Up
Heat pumps are multi-functional HVAC systems capable of heating and cooling homes thanks to a built-in reversing valve. If you have a heat pump, you should know that efficiency standards have changed for this equipment as well. But unlike air conditioners, one standard applies to the entire country.
From 2015 to 2022, the minimum cooling efficiency rating for heat pumps was 14 SEER. This increased to 15 SEER nationwide in 2023. The minimum heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) is also going up. From 2015 to 2022, the minimum rating was 8.2 HSPF. This has risen to 8.8 HSPF nationwide.
Any 14 SEER heat pump manufactured in 2022 or earlier can still be installed after January 1, 2023. This is true in both the Northern and Southern regions of the country.
New Testing Metrics are in Use
The most confusing part of the new federal regulations on AC units is that the DOE is enacting more stringent testing procedures to determine efficiency ratings. The goal is to more accurately reflect field conditions during testing.
The DOE has introduced new labels to coincide with the stricter metrics—SEER2 and HSPF2. These are replacing the outgoing SEER and HSPF designations. Under the new 2023 test procedures, ratings with a “2” after them appear to be lower, even though they reflect the same level of performance.
For example, the 14 SEER minimum for new air conditioners in the Northern US is written as 13.4 SEER2. And the 8.8 HSPF minimum for heat pumps nationwide is written as 7.5 HSPF2.
It’s important to understand this distinction when shopping for a new air conditioner or heat pump. Note that cooling efficiency is not the same as cooling capacity. You will still need to size new HVAC equipment to ensure it keeps up with demand. Then, choose an efficiency rating based on the new regulations, your budget, and your desire to keep operating costs low. If you still have questions, ask your installer for clarification.
New Refrigerants in 2023
The final significant change the DOE has enacted involves the refrigerants manufacturers can use in new air conditioners and heat pumps. R-410A (Puron) has been the standard since 2010. This refrigerant was introduced as an alternative to ozone-depleting R-22 (Freon), which was completely phased out in 2020.
While Puron doesn’t deplete the ozone, it has a high global warming potential (GWP) and harms the environment when refrigerant leaks occur. For this reason, Puron and other hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are being phased down over the coming years. Supplies will remain available to repair existing equipment for at least the next decade, but no new HVAC systems will contain Puron going forward.
One refrigerant taking Puron’s place is R-454B (trademarked as Opteon XL41, Solstice 454B, and Puron Advance by different manufacturers). This option is more eco-friendly than its predecessors but is not compatible with systems running on Freon or Puron. This means you must replace your air conditioner or heat pump to take advantage of this new alternative refrigerant.
How Do the New AC Efficiency Standards Affect Costs?
In general, high-efficiency cooling systems cost more upfront than the mid-range models being phased out this year because they utilize more advanced components. The good news is that more efficient units cost less to operate, so the upfront investment pays for itself over time.
For instance, a compliant 14 SEER (13.4 SEER2) unit consumes about 7 percent less energy than a now-obsolete 13 SEER unit. If you upgrade your old 10 SEER air conditioner to one with the new 14 SEER (13.4 SEER2) minimum, you can expect to save about 30 percent on your air conditioning bill. The savings add up over time while contributing less to global warming.
Of course, air conditioners with much higher efficiency ratings are also available. For example, you could upgrade your old 10 SEER unit to a top-of-the-line 24 SEER model to slash your cooling bills by nearly 60 percent. With a lifespan of 15 years or more, your investment should pay for itself by the time you need another new air conditioner.
Request an AC Installation Estimate in Fort Collins
Are you ready to replace your air conditioner? Allen Service can help you compare sizes, brands, and efficiency ratings to meet your budget and comfort needs. We offer valuable discounts and financing with approved credit to save you significantly on your next cooling upgrade. For more information about the new HVAC regulations or to request an installation estimate, please call us at 970-484-4841 or contact us online today.
Kuanzia Januari 1, 2021, viwango vipya vya kiwango cha chini cha ufanisi vilianza kutumika kwa vifaa vya hali ya hewa na pampu za joto. Wizara ya Nishati ya Marekani (DOE) imetoa uamuzi huu katika juhudi za kupunguza uzalishaji wa gesi za chafu nchini humo. Hii ni mara ya kwanza kwa ajili ya joto pampu na AC viwango vya ufanisi tangu 2015. Vifaa vyote vya HVAC vinavyotengenezwa hivi karibuni vinapaswa kufuata viwango vilivyobadilishwa, lakini wamiliki wa nyumba hawahitaji kubadilisha vifaa vya HVAC vilivyopo. Hapa ni kila kitu unahitaji kujua kuhusu mpya AC kanuni za shirikisho kama mkazi wa Colorado. Kiwango cha ufanisi wa nishati ya msimu (SEER) ni kiwango cha ufanisi ambacho kinaelezea jinsi hali ya hewa inavyotumia umeme kuondoa joto kutoka kwa jengo. Kati ya 2015 na 2022, kiwango cha chini cha kiwango cha hali ya hewa katika Colorado ilikuwa 13 SEER. Vifaa vilivyowekwa kusini vilipaswa kuwa na 14 SEER au zaidi. Katika mwaka wa 2023, kiwango cha ufanisi kiliongezeka hadi 14 SEER kaskazini na 15 SEER kusini. Ni muhimu kutambua kwamba vifaa vya chini vya ufanisi vilivyotengenezwa kabla ya Januari 1, 2023 bado vinaweza kuwekwa huko Colorado na sehemu nyingine za Kaskazini mwa Marekani hadi vifaa vitakapopungua. Sheria ni kali zaidi kusini, ambapo mifumo ya chini ya ufanisi iliyojengwa mnamo 2022 au mapema haiwezi kuwekwa sasa wakati tarehe ya mwisho mpya ya ufanisi imepita. Pampu za joto ni mifumo ya HVAC yenye uwezo wa kupasha joto na baridi nyumba kwa sababu ya valve ya kurudi nyuma iliyojengwa. Kama una pampu ya joto, unapaswa kujua kwamba viwango vya ufanisi wamebadilika kwa ajili ya vifaa hivi pia. Lakini tofauti na vifaa vya kutengeneza hewa, kiwango kimoja hutumiwa katika nchi nzima. Kuanzia mwaka 2015 hadi 2022, kiwango cha chini cha ufanisi wa baridi kwa pampu za joto ilikuwa 14 SEER. Idadi hiyo iliongezeka hadi 15 katika nchi nzima mnamo 2023. Kiwango cha chini cha utendaji wa msimu wa joto (HSPF) pia kinapanda. Kuanzia mwaka 2015 hadi 2022, kiwango cha chini cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango cha kiwango. Hii imepanda hadi 8.8 HSPF nchini kote. Pampu yoyote ya joto ya SEER iliyotengenezwa mnamo 2022 au mapema inaweza bado kuwekwa baada ya Januari 1, 2023. Hilo ni kweli katika maeneo ya Kaskazini na Kusini mwa nchi. "Kama sehemu ya ""kuchanganya zaidi"" ya kanuni mpya za shirikisho juu ya vitengo vya AC ni kwamba DOE inaanzisha taratibu kali zaidi za upimaji ili kuamua viwango vya ufanisi." Lengo ni kuonyesha kwa usahihi zaidi hali za shamba wakati wa majaribio. DOE imeanzisha lebo mpya ili kufanana na vipimo vikali zaidi <unk> SEER2 na HSPF2. Hizi ni kuchukua nafasi ya kuondoka SEER na HSPF majina. Chini ya taratibu mpya za mtihani wa 2023, viwango vyenye <unk>2<unk> baada yao vinaonekana kuwa chini, ingawa vinaonyesha kiwango sawa cha utendaji. Kwa mfano, kiwango cha chini cha 14 SEER kwa vifaa vipya vya hali ya hewa katika Kaskazini mwa Marekani ni 13.4 SEER2. HSPF ya chini ya 8.8 kwa pampu za joto nchini kote ni 7.5 HSPF2. Ni muhimu kuelewa tofauti hii wakati wa ununuzi kwa ajili ya mpya air conditioner au pampu ya joto. Kumbuka kwamba ufanisi baridi si sawa na uwezo wa baridi. Kwa hivyo, ni muhimu kuamua kiwango cha vifaa vya HVAC ili kuhakikisha kuwa vinaweza kukidhi mahitaji. Kisha, chagua kiwango cha ufanisi kulingana na kanuni mpya, bajeti yako, na tamaa yako ya kuweka gharama za uendeshaji chini. Kama bado una maswali, uliza msanidi programu wako kwa ufafanuzi. "Kama ilivyoelezwa hapo juu, ""mabadiliko ya mwisho muhimu ambayo DOE imepitisha yanahusisha viungo vya baridi ambavyo watengenezaji wanaweza kutumia katika vifaa vipya vya hali ya hewa na pampu za joto.""" R410A (Puron) ni kiwango cha kawaida tangu 2010. Kifaa hiki cha baridi kilianzishwa kama mbadala wa R-22 (Freon) inayoharibu ozoni, ambayo iliondolewa kabisa mnamo 2020. Wakati Puron haina deplete ozone, ina high global warming uwezo (GWP) na madhara ya mazingira wakati kuvuja baridi kutokea. Kwa sababu hii, Puron na hydrofluorocarbons nyingine (HFCs) ni hatua kwa hatua chini katika miaka ijayo. Vifaa vya kusafisha vifaa vya sasa vitatolewa kwa angalau miaka kumi ijayo, lakini hakuna mifumo mpya ya HVAC itakayokuwa na Puron. R454B ni moja ya vifaa vya baridi kuchukua nafasi ya Puron (marked kama Opteon XL41, Solstice 454B, na Puron Advance na wazalishaji tofauti). Chaguo hili ni zaidi ya mazingira ya kirafiki kuliko watangulizi wake lakini si sambamba na mifumo mbio juu ya Freon au Puron. Hii inamaanisha lazima ubadilishe kiyoyozi chako au pampu ya joto ili kufurahia kiyoyozi hiki kipya cha badala. Viwango Vipya vya Ufanisi wa AC Huathirije Gharama? Kwa ujumla, mifumo ya baridi yenye ufanisi wa juu inagharimu zaidi kuliko mifano ya kati inayopunguzwa mwaka huu kwa sababu hutumia vipengele vya hali ya juu zaidi. Habari njema ni kwamba vitengo vyenye ufanisi zaidi vinagharimu kidogo kuendesha, kwa hiyo uwekezaji wa mapema unajilipa wenyewe kwa muda. Kwa mfano, 14 SEER (13.4 SEER2) kitengo hutumia karibu 7% chini ya nishati kuliko 13 SEER kitengo sasa ni kizamani. Ikiwa umebadilisha hali ya hewa ya zamani ya 10 SEER na moja na kiwango kipya cha 14 SEER, unaweza kutarajia kuokoa karibu asilimia 30 kwenye bili yako ya hali ya hewa. Uokoaji huo huongezeka kadiri wakati unavyopita huku ukiongeza kidogo juu ya ongezeko la joto duniani. Bila shaka, kuna vifaa vya kutengeneza hewa vyenye ufanisi mkubwa zaidi. Kwa mfano, unaweza kuboresha 10 SEER yako ya zamani kwa 24 SEER ya juu ya mstari ili kupunguza bili yako ya baridi kwa karibu 60%. Kwa kuwa ina maisha ya miaka 15 au zaidi, uwekezaji wako unapaswa kujilipia wakati unahitaji kiyoyozi kingine kipya. Omba Makadirio ya Usanidi wa AC huko Fort Collins Je, uko tayari kubadilisha kiyoyozi chako? Huduma ya Allen inaweza kukusaidia kulinganisha ukubwa, bidhaa, na viwango vya ufanisi ili kukidhi bajeti yako na mahitaji ya faraja. Tunatoa punguzo la thamani na kufadhili kwa mkopo uliokubaliwa ili kukuokoa kwa kiasi kikubwa kwenye uboreshaji wako wa baridi. Kwa maelezo zaidi kuhusu sheria mpya za HVAC au kuomba makadirio ya ufungaji, tafadhali tupigie simu 970-484-4841 au wasiliana nasi mtandaoni leo.