On January 1, 2023, The Department of Energy (DOE) will enact new regulations regarding the efficiency of HVAC units and heat pumps across the U.S. Homeowners seeking to upgrade their units must be aware of the changes being set forth as they decide which unit to purchase.
Questions Homeowners May Have
What are the new 2023 HVAC regulations?
In response to recent national changes, the DOE has organized regulations for newly manufactured residential HVAC units across the U.S. Starting January 1, 2023, these units will be required to conform to energy efficiency guidelines on regional and national levels. All HVAC units across the U.S. must increase their SEER rating by 1 point, making them more energy efficient.
Who is setting these new standards?
The Department of Energy (DOE) is enacting new standards based on evaluations from the U.S. government which measure energy efficiency, available technology, and economic impacts nationwide. Based on these evaluations, the DOE has changed their test procedures and determined that higher efficiency levels were economically, environmentally, and technologically justified.
What is SEER, and how does it impact HVAC systems?
SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. Essentially, SEER measures HVAC unit and heat pump cooling efficiency. A higher SEER rating provides greater energy efficiency and helps save money on your energy bill. Older HVAC units often have lower SEER ratings, making them much less energy efficient than newer units. Newly manufactured HVAC systems will be required to meet the new minimum SEER ratings.
What efficiency level is recommended for my region?
Energy efficiency regulations are separated by region (North, Southeast, and Southwest). Coastal North Carolina is located in the Southeast region, and the DOE is requiring our region and the Southwest region to increase from 14 to 15 SEER for HVAC units 3.5 tons or less, and units greater than 3.5 tons will increase from 14 to 14.5 SEER. In the Northern region, HVAC efficiencies will increase from 13 to 14 SEER for all units.
Do I need to upgrade my current unit?
Homeowners will not be required to upgrade their current HVAC unit, even if it doesn’t meet the new energy efficiency regulations. However, homeowners seeking to reduce their energy bill and improve the energy efficiency of their home may want to consider upgrading to a unit that follows the new regulations.
Call us today at (919) 367-3818 to see how Carolina Comfort Air can increase the energy efficiency of your HVAC unit and ensure your home stays comfortable all year long.