When making space in our budgets, we usually only consider two options: add more income or tighten the belt. There’s also a third option, though. Investing in efficiency is an overlooked way to spend less money every year at minimal sacrifice. By upgrading to an ENERGY STAR®-certified HVAC unit, for example, you can save up to 40% on your yearly heating and cooling costs. Here’s an in-depth look at how much you could save, courtesy of Pointon HVAC, Wisconsin’s leading certified LENNOX® dealer and HVAC contractor.

Deciding to Upgrade

Many homeowners don’t realize that the average air conditioner tends to lose efficiency after 10 years of operation. If your energy costs have increased since last year, and your air conditioner is starting to age, it’s time for a replacement.

Even a newer unit can be inefficient, however. HVAC contractors use the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to represent how much cooling a system outputs divided by the energy it consumes. Average central AC units on the market have SEERs of 13–14, while ENERGY STAR-certified LENNOX products average around 20. If you don’t have your system’s SEER on hand, contact the manufacturer — a low rating means you could be saving more.

How Much You Can Save

As a responsible homeowner, you probably aren’t ready to pay for an upgrade without some hard numbers. You’ll have to look at your own AC habits and home size for exact calculations, but we can get a general idea using Wisconsin averages:

• In 2010, the average home size was 1,667 square feet
• Around Baraboo, you’re likely to use the AC for at most 4 months
• You’ll be using the AC for 9 hours a day
• Energy costs 13 cents per kilowatt-hour in WI

Even in the colder parts of Wisconsin, a LENNOX AC unit with 20 SEER could save you up to $863 over its lifetime. Those savings could make a superior unit — one that produces higher air quality and more consistent temperature — more affordable than an average one in the long term. The higher your SEER increase, the higher your savings; considering old units may have SEERs as low as 7, an upgrade could put a major dent in your utility bill.  

Take the next step to savings by working with the HVAC contractors at Pointon Heating & Air Conditioning to find the right system for your home. Contact their location in Baraboo at (608) 356-4177 or Portage at (608) 745-4616 or visit them online today.