The new minimum standard, effective January 1, 2015, is 14 SEER for both heat pumps and cooling air conditioners. One exception: straight cool air conditioners in the Northern region of the U.S. will remain at minimum 13 SEER. But many newer heat pumps and air conditioners that we see have a SEER of 15, 16, or even higher up to 22.

    The last upgrade of the standard was in January, 2006, when the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) required that all new residential air conditioners sold in the United States have a minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of 13. A higher number indicates less energy usage for the same amount of cooling, and the previous minimum SEER for the decade before the new mandate was 10, with the 13 SEER about 23% more energy efficient than a 10.

   For a new system to get an EnergyStar rating, it must jump higher. But window air conditioners are exempt, and most hover around 10.

   Systems are now available with ratings above 20, and climbing regularly as the technology advances. Each notch upward in the SEER ratings requires a bigger equipment investment, and the condenser unit (outside part of a split-system heat pump or air conditioner) itself also grows larger as the SEER increases.

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  To learn more about heating and air conditioning systems, see these other blog posts:

• How can I find out the SEER of my air conditioner? 

• My air conditioner won't turn on. What's wrong? 

• How can I find out the size of my air conditioner? 

• How can I tell whether the condenser (outdoor unit) is an air conditioner or heat pump? 

• Where is the air filter for my central air conditioner and furnace? I can’t find it? 

• Does an old air conditioner use more electricity as it ages? 

• How did homes stay cool in Florida before air conditioning? 

• What is wrong with an air conditioner when the air flow out of the vents is low?

• Why has the thermostat screen gone blank? 

• Why does it take so long to cool a house when an air conditioner has been off for a while? 

• Why is my air conditioner not cooling enough? 

• What are the most common problems with wall/window air conditioners?  

• Will closing doors reduce my heating and cooling costs? 

   Visit our HEATING AND AIR CONDITIONING page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.