The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) enforces SEER2 requirements according to your geographical region. Since people living in southern climates use their air conditioners more often, they require more energy efficient systems. In 2015 the department decided to consider this, and the nation was divided into two main regions (North and South) based on the population weighted number of heating degree days (HDD). States with 5,000 HDD or more are considered part of the northern region, while States with less than 5,000 HDD are considered part of the southern region. The Department of Energy further split the southern region into two regions: “Hot-dry” and “Hot-humid”. The table below shows the minimum SEER value for each region.
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​In addition to the regional standards DOE also adopted new efficiency standards for other types of central air conditioners, as well as heat pumps. 

A higher SEER2 rating will mean lower utility bills and more comfort this is because this units tend to come with features like multi-stage cooling making your residence or business more comfortable. New air conditioners might be more expensive, but the use of a more efficient model means you will save more on every utility bill.
The US Department of Energy predicts the new standard for furnace fans will:

• Avoid 50 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions because of these new standards for central air conditioners.

• Save approximately 3.99 quads of energy
• Save Americans more than 9 billion in home electric bills through 2030.

• Equipment power or cooling capacity

It is expressed in Fridges or kW. The higher the value, the more powerful the air conditioner. For the calculation of the necessary power, numerous factors are involved, such as the surface of the walls, the roof, exterior temperature, glazed surface, orientation of the room, exterior shadows, geographical location, time of year, construction materials, among others. An example would be in the case of an area of 20 m2 would be enough with a 2.5 kW air conditioner.

• Sound level

To know the noise level of an air conditioner, all you have to do is check its energy label, where the sound power level in decibels will appear for both the indoor units (the data appears inside the symbol of a little house) and the outdoor unit ( the data appears outside the house symbol). If the split is going to be installed and used in a bedroom, it is not recommended to exceed 24 decibels in "night mode".
However, almost all models also have a silence option, also called sleep, which consists of the air conditioning progressively reducing the power of the air and at the same time reducing noise, which drops to less than 20 dB. Turn it on during bedtime and you will enjoy a quiet night as well as a comfortable temperature.
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• Energy consumption

When choosing an air conditioner, it is important to take into account energy consumption, which will result in the energy bill at the end of the month but also in reducing emissions into the environment. Higher cooling capacity corresponds to higher energy consumption. For this reason, it is best to choose a product that has a high energy class, due to energy consumption.
Air conditioning equipment, as energy consuming devices, must display an energy label indicating its level of energy efficiency, with a rating in colors and letters from A++ for the most efficient to G for the most energy they consume.
The energy rating is determined through the SEER. Since January 1, 2013, the SEER is used as a measure of the energy efficiency of an equipment and therefore it is this coefficient that determines a certain energy rating based on the range where it is located. This regulation establishes the eco-design requirements for air conditioners with a thermal input ≤ 12 kW. One of the novelties of this regulation was the energy rating of equipment based on seasonal energy efficiency, hence its name is Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER).
For their calculation, the following parameters are considered

This gives a more realistic measure of consumption and its efficiency. In fact, it is not true that the equipment works at 100% every day. The consumption of the equipment when it is turned off or on standby is also evaluated. This factor is also very relevant in real conditions and is often called phantom consumption.

SEER Equivalent Values
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Factors Influencing SEER Value
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• A good component of inverter technology.
• That the compressor is highly sensitive to react correctly to the slightest temperature variations, without the need to make great efforts that affect energy consumption.

To make it easier to digest here we show an example of the impact that these efficiency parameters are going to have on our bill. It is enough to look at the power that the conditioning equipment has marked. If we divide this thermal power in kilowatts by the SEER number of the equipment, we will have as a result the electrical power that this equipment will consume in one hour.
An air conditioner with 3 kW of thermal power with a SEER of 8.5 (A+++) will give us 0.35 kWh of consumed power in one hour. (3 kW / 8.5= 0.35 kWh)

In AMPLUS AC we work only with equipment that meets SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) energy efficiency requirements. The minimum standard SEER for air conditioners is 13, though most modern air conditioners have a SEER that ranges from 13 to 21. We work with brands as Trane which  offers  air conditioners range from 14.5 SEER up to 22 SEER

Change in the surface of the cooling area

In the specific case that the area in cubic meters that is wanted to be cooled, the change to a more powerful air conditioning unit would be necessary.

Ecological Issue

One of the reasons that may motivate people to change their current air conditioning equipment may be to replace it with one that complies with environmental care certifications.

Noise

Older air conditioning designs generally cause more noise while using it, with current technology it has been improved to reduce the noise almost completely, being another of the reasons for changing your air conditioning.
 
In all these cases, it is recommended to replace the air conditioning with a new one, since poor operation also means a considerable increase in maintenance cost and electricity bill since the system needs more energy and, even so, it is less effective compared with a new device. In the case of the requirement of new characteristics or properties that only have air conditioners of the latest generation, the change is also the solution.
 
If your final decision is to change your current Air Conditioner, here you have some useful tips:

1. Choosing the place for your new Air Conditioning. Take into account the area where the air conditioner will be placed, taking into account that the air circulates correctly, and the greatest efficiency of the device is obtained​
2. Verify that the change is made by an experienced professional. Go to a professional who knows how to calculate which equipment best suits your needs and knows perfectly how to carry out the installations, is crucial to obtain the best result. Verified that the company you are working with has certified professionals. Let yourself be advised by specialists before making your decision.
3. Control of possible gas leaks. A very important factor is the recovery of refrigerant gas, which negatively affects the environment. They are currently increasing the restrictive laws for the use and handling of this type of gas is therefore another reason why working with specialized professionals is always the best option.
4. Choose AMPLUS Air Conditioning services. We are integrated by professionals in Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Services with more than 30 years of experience, giving you a guarantee result during the installation of your Air Conditioning according to your necessities. avoiding breakdowns and malfunctions unnecessarily. Our Team is in constant training to keep up with the new technology and changes in the industry, as a leader, we don't cut corners, we do what it takes to do it right, every time, all the times. In addition we help you with the financing of your new Air Conditioning system. Contact us for more information.