HVAC SEER Calculator

HVAC SEER is evaluated from Current AC SEER Rating, New AC SEER Rating and AC System Size. The calculation reports Old AC Annual Energy Use, New AC Annual Energy Use and Annual Savings.

Results

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About the HVAC SEER Calculator

HVAC SEER is treated here as a quantitative relation between Current AC SEER Rating, New AC SEER Rating, AC System Size and AC Hours per Year and Old AC Annual Energy Use, New AC Annual Energy Use, Annual Savings and Payback Period.

The calculator uses a multi formula configuration. Each reported value is read as a direct evaluation of the stored rules with the declared field formats and units.

Formula basis:
Old watts = (tons x 12,000 BTU) / (SEER x 0.875 EER factor)
New watts = same formula with new SEER
Annual kWh = watts x hours / 1,000
Annual savings = (old kWh - new kWh) x electricity rate
Payback = upgrade cost / annual savings

Interpret the outputs in the order shown by the result fields. Optional inputs affect only the outputs that depend on those variables.

Formula & How It Works

The calculation applies the following relations exactly as recorded in the metadata:

Old watts = (tons x 12,000 BTU) / (SEER x 0.875 EER factor)
New watts = same formula with new SEER
Annual kWh = watts x hours / 1,000
Annual savings = (old kWh - new kWh) x electricity rate
Payback = upgrade cost / annual savings

Each output field is produced by substituting the supplied inputs into the relevant relation and then applying the declared rounding or text format.

Worked Examples

Example 1: 10 SEER to 20 SEER upgrade, 3-ton system, 2,000 hours/year (Atlanta), $0.15/kWh, $4,000 upgrade premium

Inputs

old_seer: 10 new_seer: 20 tons: 3 annual_hours: 2000 elec_rate: 0.15 upgrade_cost: 4000

Old AC Annual Energy Use: 8,229 kWh/year. New AC Annual Energy Use: 4,114 kWh/year. Annual Savings: $617/year. Payback Period: 6.5 years

With Current AC SEER Rating = 10, New AC SEER Rating = 20, AC System Size = 3 and AC Hours per Year = 2,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Old AC Annual Energy Use = 8,229 kWh/year, New AC Annual Energy Use = 4,114 kWh/year and Annual Savings = $617/year. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 2: 8 SEER to 16 SEER, 2.5-ton system, 2,500 hours/year (Houston), $0.13/kWh, $1,500 upgrade cost

Inputs

old_seer: 8 new_seer: 16 tons: 2.5 annual_hours: 2500 elec_rate: 0.13 upgrade_cost: 1500

Old AC Annual Energy Use: 10,714 kWh/year. New AC Annual Energy Use: 5,357 kWh/year. Annual Savings: $696/year. Payback Period: 2.2 years

With Current AC SEER Rating = 8, New AC SEER Rating = 16, AC System Size = 2.5 and AC Hours per Year = 2,500 as the stated inputs, the result is Old AC Annual Energy Use = 10,714 kWh/year, New AC Annual Energy Use = 5,357 kWh/year and Annual Savings = $696/year. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 3: 13 SEER to 26 SEER upgrade, 4-ton system, 3,000 hours/year (Miami/Phoenix), $0.14/kWh, $5,000 premium

Inputs

old_seer: 13 new_seer: 26 tons: 4 annual_hours: 3000 elec_rate: 0.14 upgrade_cost: 5000

Old AC Annual Energy Use: 12,659 kWh/year. New AC Annual Energy Use: 6,330 kWh/year. Annual Savings: $886/year. Payback Period: 5.6 years

With Current AC SEER Rating = 13, New AC SEER Rating = 26, AC System Size = 4 and AC Hours per Year = 3,000 as the stated inputs, the result is Old AC Annual Energy Use = 12,659 kWh/year, New AC Annual Energy Use = 6,330 kWh/year and Annual Savings = $886/year. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 4: 6 SEER to 14 SEER minimum replacement, 2-ton window unit equivalent, 800 hrs/year (Chicago), $0.17/kWh

Inputs

old_seer: 6 new_seer: 14 tons: 2 annual_hours: 800 elec_rate: 0.17 upgrade_cost: 800

Old AC Annual Energy Use: 3,657 kWh/year. New AC Annual Energy Use: 1,567 kWh/year. Annual Savings: $355/year. Payback Period: 2.3 years

With Current AC SEER Rating = 6, New AC SEER Rating = 14, AC System Size = 2 and AC Hours per Year = 800 as the stated inputs, the result is Old AC Annual Energy Use = 3,657 kWh/year, New AC Annual Energy Use = 1,567 kWh/year and Annual Savings = $355/year. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Common Use Cases

Calculate savings from upgrading to higher SEER AC
Compare annual electricity costs of different SEER ratings
Determine payback period for high-efficiency AC investment