Air Conditioner Efficiency | EGEE 102: Energy Conservation and Enviro...

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Air Conditioner Efficiency

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Air conditioners are rated by the number of British Thermal Units (BTU) of heat they can remove per hour. Another common conditioning size is the "ton," which is 12,000 BTU per hour.

Each air conditioner has an energy-efficiency rating that lists how many BTUs per hour are removed or pulled out for each draws. The efficiency rating for room conditioners is the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER.

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The efficiency rating for central air conditioners, is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, or SEER.

These ratings are posted on an Energy Guide Label, which must be conspicuously attached to all new air conditioners. Ene appliances mean that they have high EER and SEER ratings.

Course Outline
Lesson 1: Energy and Society Lesson 2: Energy Supply and Demand Home Activity 1 Lesson 3: Energy Efficiency Home Activity 2 Lesson 4: Energy and the Environment Lesson 5: Appliances Home Activity 3 Lesson 6: Lighting Home Activity 4 Home Activity 5 Lesson 7: Home Heating Basics Lesson 8: Home Heating Systems Lesson 9: Home Cooling Overview Humidity Air Conditioning How Air Conditioners Work Types of Air Conditioners Air Conditioner Efficiency Air Conditioner Sizing Natural Cooling Saving Energy Environmental Protection Review and Extra Resources Study Mate Home Activity 6 Lesson 10: Windows

Room Air ConditionersEER

Energy Efficient Ratio (EER) measures how efficiently a room air conditioner will operate at a specific outdoor temperature. EER, the more efficient the system. The EER can be calculated using this equation:

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Remember that the EER energy-efficiency rating lists how many BTUs per hour are removed or pulled out for each watt o

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Room air conditioners generally range from 5,500 BTU per hour to 14,000 BTU per hour.

National appliance standards require room air conditioners built after January 1, 1990, to have an EER of 8.0 or greater. A ro with an EER of at least 9.0 is recommended for milder climates, whereas in hotter climates an EER over 10 is preferred.

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers reports that the average EER of room air conditioners rose 47 percent f be cut by 50 percent.

1991. If a 1970s-vintage room air conditioner with an EER of 5 is replaced with a new one with an EER of 10, air conditionin

Central Air ConditionersSEER

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) measures how efficiently a central air conditioner will operate at a specific outdoo The higher the SEER, the more efficient the system. The SEER can be calculated using this equation:

Again, the SEER energy-efficiency rating lists how many BTUs per hour are removed or pulled out for each watt of power Central Air ConditionersSEER

National minimum standards for central air conditioners require a SEER of 9.7 and 10.0, for single-package and split-system But you do not need to settle for the minimum standardthere is a wide selection of units with SEERs reaching nearly 17.

Before 1979, the SEERs of central air conditioners ranged from 4.5 to 8.0. Replacing a 1970s-era central air conditioner wi

with a new unit having a SEER of 12 will cut your air conditioning costs in half. Today's best air conditioners use 30% to 50% save 20 to 40 percent of your cooling energy costs by replacing it with a newer, more efficient model.

produce the same amount of cooling as air conditioners made in the mid 1970s. Even if your air conditioner is only 10 years

In general, new air conditioners with higher EERs or SEERs have higher price tags. Ho initial cost of an energy-efficient model will be recovered several times during its companies encourage the purchase of a more efficient air conditioner by offering ince most efficient air conditioner you can afford, especially if you use (or think you wi frequently and/or if your electricity rates are high.

Example

Calculate the power consumption of 5000 BTUs/h room air conditioner with an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of 8 Solution: We know that
BT Us h

EER =

pulledout

W att

Given that the AC pulls out 5,000 BTUs per hour and its EER = 8, we have

5000
Therefore, its wattage =

BT Us h

W att

= 8W

5000

BT Us h

= 625W

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Example

An old room air conditioner with an EER 6 was replaced by a new air conditioner with an EER of 10.0. The power with the old air conditioner was 1000 W. Calculate the power consumption of the new air conditioner.

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Transcript (~80 KB)

Example

An old room air conditioner with an EER 6 was replaced by a new air conditioner with an EER of 10.0. The room r

tons of air conditioning. Calculate the difference in power consumption between the old and new air conditioner

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Transcript (~85 KB)

Example

What is the annual cost for operating a 3 ton central air conditioner with an SEER of 10? Assume that the AC ope hours in a year and the cost of electricity is 9.2 cents per kWh. Solution:
BT Us h

SEER =

pulledout

W att

BT Us h

36, 000

W att

= 10

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W atts =

36, 000 10

BT Us h

= 3, 600W

Recall that 1 ton =12,000 BTUs/h. Therefore, the cooling load is 3 x 12,000 BTUs/h = 36,000 BTUs/h Recall also that 1,000 W = 1 kW. Therefore, power consumption = 3.6 kW. Energy = Power x Time of Usage = 3.6 kW x 2,000 h/year = 7,200 kWh/year. Annual Cost = Units of energy x price per unit

= 7, 200 kW h
Example

$0.092 kW h

= $662.40

Suppose you are comparing two air conditioners both of which last for 10 years. The least efficient air condition

of power. The most efficient one uses 700 Watts. Assuming that the air conditioner operates 2,400 hours annuall are you willing to pay extra for the energy efficient model?

local energy cost is 0.08 per kWh, how much money and energy can you save with the energy efficient model? H

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Transcript (~90 KB)

Example If the owner bought an air conditioner with an SEER of 15, which costs $500 more, instead of the model in the pr Illustration (7-3), what is the pay back period? The power consumption of this new model is

36, 000 15

BT Us h

= 2, 400W atts = 2.4kW

Energy = 2.4kW hx2, 000h/year = 4, 800kW h/year

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AnnualCost =

4, 800kW h $0.092 x = $441.60 year kW h

Savingsperyear = $662.40 $441.60 = $220.80

P ayBackP eriod =

AdditionalInvestment $500.00 = = 2.3y SavingsperY ear $220.80/year

Types of Air Conditioners

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Author: Dr. Sarma Pisupati, Associate Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, The Pennsylvania State Univ

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