Beginning January 1, 2023, the Department of Energy is increasing the minimum efficiencies for central air conditioners and heat pumps. The testing procedures for determining those efficiencies are changing as well.
– For air conditioners in the North, the minimum efficiency will increase from 13.0 to 14.0 SEER and in the South from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER† under today’s test procedure.
– The national heat pump minimum efficiency will increase from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER.
The external static pressure used when testing will be increased by up to 5X to better reflect field conditions.
In 2023, there will be new metrics and nomenclature – SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2.
– The new SEER2 ratings will be lower, and the minimum efficiencies will be reduced to account for the more difficult test procedures.
– The new test procedure will also drive changes to the airflow set point on indoor blowers (fan coils and furnaces).
A summary of these changes is provided in the below letter from Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems to its customers in March 2022.
– For air conditioners in the North, the minimum efficiency will increase from 13.0 to 14.0 SEER and in the South from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER† under today’s test procedure.
– The national heat pump minimum efficiency will increase from 14.0 to 15.0 SEER.
The external static pressure used when testing will be increased by up to 5X to better reflect field conditions.
In 2023, there will be new metrics and nomenclature – SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2.
– The new SEER2 ratings will be lower, and the minimum efficiencies will be reduced to account for the more difficult test procedures.
– The new test procedure will also drive changes to the airflow set point on indoor blowers (fan coils and furnaces).
A summary of these changes is provided in the below letter from Bryant Heating & Cooling Systems to its customers in March 2022.
| 2023 Bryant Regulatory Overview |