When shopping for a new HVAC system, you'll encounter a alphabet soup of efficiency ratings — SEER, SEER2, EER, AFUE, HSPF, HSPF2, COP. These numbers directly affect your energy bills for the next 15–20 years, so understanding them is important. Here's what each one means in plain English.
SEER / SEER2 (Air Conditioners & Heat Pumps — Cooling)
What it measures: Cooling efficiency over an entire season
What the number means: Higher SEER = more efficient = lower cooling costs
Current standards: The minimum SEER2 for new systems in the Southeast (including Georgia) is 14.3 SEER2 (equivalent to about 15 old SEER). High-efficiency units range from 16–25+ SEER2.
Real-world impact: Upgrading from a 10-SEER system (common in pre-2006 homes) to a 16-SEER system reduces cooling costs by approximately 37%.
AFUE (Gas Furnaces)
What it measures: What percentage of fuel becomes usable heat
What the number means: An 80% AFUE furnace converts 80 cents of every dollar of gas into heat. The other 20 cents goes up the flue as exhaust.
Current standards: Minimum AFUE is 80%. High-efficiency furnaces achieve 95–98% AFUE.
Real-world impact: Upgrading from an 80% AFUE furnace to a 96% AFUE furnace reduces gas heating costs by approximately 17%.
HSPF / HSPF2 (Heat Pumps — Heating)
What it measures: Heating efficiency of a heat pump over an entire season
What the number means: Higher HSPF = more efficient heating
Current standards: Minimum HSPF2 for new heat pumps in the Southeast is 7.5. High-efficiency units achieve 10–13+ HSPF2.
What Efficiency Level Should You Buy?
For Georgia homes, we generally recommend:
Don't Forget Installation Quality
Here's the truth the efficiency ratings don't tell you: a poorly installed 20-SEER system can perform worse than a properly installed 16-SEER system. Proper sizing, correct refrigerant charge, sealed ductwork, and quality installation are just as important as the efficiency rating on the box.
Ready to find the right efficiency level for your budget? Call All Seasons at (770) 809-1355 for a free HVAC installation consultation with honest recommendations. Serving Carrollton, Newnan, and Villa Rica.