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Central Air Conditioners

Heating and cooling costs the average homeowner about $1,000 a year — nearly half the home's total energy bill. If your central air conditioning unit is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an ENERGY STAR qualified model could cut your cooling costs by 30 percent.

Central Air Conditioners

Earning the ENERGY STAR means products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy.

  • ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners have a higher seasonal efficiency rating (SEER) than standard models, which makes them about 14% more efficient than standard models.

Remember, saving energy prevents pollution. By choosing ENERGY STAR and taking steps to optimize the performance of your cooling equipment, you are helping to prevent global warming and promoting cleaner air while enhancing the comfort of your home.

You may also be interested to know:

  • Though these products can be more expensive to purchase up front, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills.
  • When buying new equipment, it is important to get a quality installation. Make sure you get a contractor who can do the job right.
  • You can get better performance out of your cooling equipment by sealing your home and making sure your ducts don't leak.
  • EPA offers additional suggestions for improving the performance of your cooling system as well as general home improvement advice.

Finding Qualified Equipment

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) and the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) have developed an online database which can be used to find qualifying ENERGY STAR equipment. All equipment listed in this online database meets the specification requirements for ENERGY STAR. This online database is solely maintained and operated by CEE and ARI.

To help understand how to use this online database, we have created a quick guide PDF (1.4MB) to help you with the various fields used in this online database.

Search CEE-ARI Online Database Exit ENERGY STAR.

New ENERGY STAR Specification to Take Effect January 1, 2009

On January 1, 2009, ENERGY STAR Tier 2 requirements for central air conditioners and air source heat pumps will take effect. The Tier 2 requirements are as follows:

Product Type SEER EER HSPF
Split Systems >=14.5 >=12 >=8.2
Single Package (including gas/electric package units) >=14 >=11 >=8

For more information see June 4, 2008 letter.