In the past, air conditioning has been accused of being the bad guy. Now, with one ear tuned to customers’ concerns, the industry is making air conditioners so much more efficient that you can save money by investing in a new one.There are a couple of guidelines to keep in mind. First, buy one with a high SEER (Seasonally Efficient Energy Rating). This is a gauge of energy efficiency. Today’s ACs can be found with SEER-30.5— as opposed to the SEER-6 you might have seen 20 years ago.
Some good models include:
- Mitsubishi SEER-30.5 (http://www.comfortup.com/mitsubishi-mz-fh09na-9-000-btu-30-5-seer-wall-mount-ductless-split-heat-pump-system-208-230v-w-i-see-h2i-hyper-heat
- Gree Crown SEER-30.5 (http://www.comfortup.com/gree-air-conditioning)
- Gree Terra SEER-27 (http://www.comfortup.com/gree-terra-superior-efficient-9-000-btu-ductless-mini-split-a-c-208-230v-w-inverter-heat-remote-free-15-line-set-kit)
Heat Pump Greenest for Heating or Cooling
Not long ago, heat pumps were only for mild climates. Now there are heat pumps that work well in temperatures down to minus-20. And they cost a fraction to operate— less than $100/year in most climate zones.
Heat pumps that work in cooler zones include:
- Gree Crown mini-split heater (http://www.comfortup.com/gree-crown-series-9-000-btu-single-zone-ductless-split-heat-pump-system-208-230-vac.
- Mitsubishi (http://www.comfortup.com/mitsubishi-dual-zone-24-000-btu-deluxe-wall-mounted-mini-split-system-with-h2i-hyper-heat-208-230v-9k-12k).
- Mitsubishi (http://www.comfortup.com/mitsubishi-18-000-btu-21-seer-ductless-mini-split-heat-pump-outdoor-unit-208-230v-w-h2i-hyper-heat).
The Crown on the list above has a SEER-30 and is Energy Star approved. Air conditioning doesn’t get much greener than that.
How to Ensure Your System Runs Like a Champ
Well-maintained systems run better and last longer than ones that are neglected. Ask your HVAC guy how often the filter needs to be changed.
If you use a programmable thermostat, the savings really pay off. You can have a multi-zone ductless mini-split system with as many as five zones.