What are the EER and the SEER ratings?
Both of these are standardized measures of the operating efficiency of cooling equipment. EER ratings are commonly found on window air conditioners and specifically indicate the equipments energy efficiency rating. SEER ratings are typically found on central and split cooling systems and designate the seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Both ratings tell you how efficiently the unit uses electricity. In simplest terms, the higher the rating, the more energy efficient the equipment is and the greater the energy savings available. US regulatory agencies now require new cooling system models to be rated @ 13.0 SEER or higher. Most currently available models range from 13.0 to 16.0 SEER.
