Research marketing has shown that buying an energy efficient heating and cooling system is a very good investment because no interest rate out there gives you as good a return on your money. Statistics from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy show that replacing an older heating or cooling system that operates at 50 % efficiency with one that operates at 95% efficiency could save you as much $50 on every $100 of your current energy bills.
Not only is buying an energy efficient heating or cooling system a good investment for your pocketbook, it's also a good investment for the environment because of the decrease in the amount of natural resources used.
One way of evaluating a heat pump or air conditioner's energy efficiency is its SEER rating or Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. You don't need to understand the formula behind the ratio, but you should know that the higher the rating the more energy efficient the unit is. Government standards have been set at 10 SEER but it is reported that they will be increased to 12 SEER in the near future. Currently Trane makes the highest SEER rating unit at 19 SEER. While it is true the highest energy efficient models cost more, the savings more than make up for the investment in the long run. The energy cost between a 10 and 12 SEER system is estimated to be 15%.
It is becoming more and more common for homeowner's to consider replacing their existing heating and cooling systems with more energy efficient units. Besides saving money and protecting the environment, it is a good investment towards the value of the home. Today's units are estimated to be 60% more energy efficient that those produced just ten years ago and the high cost of major repairs is causing many people to consider replacing their older units with a new more energy efficient heating and cooling system.
Other ways of increasing your heating and cooling system's energy efficiency include using ceiling fans to circulate air in the summer, installing a programmable thermostat you can use to raise the temperature when you're asleep or away from home, planting trees around your home, updating windows with thermo-pane glass, keeping shades and blinds drawn during the summer months, adding insulation to duct work in attics and basements, and weatherizing your home.
Creating a more energy efficient home is always a good idea, and because of the progress in manufacturing heating and cooling systems it's becoming easier to do. Do some calculations with your heating and air conditioning technician to see if you could save money and energy with a high energy efficient system.
