Energy Savings Calculator
Estimate annual energy consumption and cost savings when upgrading from an existing HVAC system to a higher-efficiency model.
Formulas Used
Annual BTU Load:
Annual BTU = Cooling Load (tons) × 12,000 BTU/hr/ton × Operating Hours (hr/yr)
EER Conversion:
EER (BTU/Wh) ≈ SEER × 0.875
(Accounts for mixed part-load vs. full-load operation per AHRI Standard 210/240)
Annual Energy Consumption:
kWh = Annual BTU Load ÷ (EER × 1,000)
Annual Savings:
ΔkWh = kWhold − kWhnew
ΔCost ($) = ΔkWh × Electricity Rate ($/kWh)
Assumptions & References
- SEER-to-EER conversion factor of 0.875 is an industry-standard approximation per AHRI Standard 210/240 and widely used in DOE energy analyses.
- Minimum federal SEER standard for residential central AC (as of 2023): 14 SEER (North) / 15 SEER (South) per DOE 10 CFR Part 430.