Energy efficiency is all but lost without the attention to detail demanded by the best heating and air conditioning contractors.
Unfortunately for the consumer, the majority of contractors sell on price rather than value. This practice has cost hundreds of millions of dollars in wasted energy and continues to do so.
Examples of the studies which substantiate this include the following:
- North Carolina Alternative Energy Corp.
Based upon actual field surveys, it was determined that 90% of the systems tested showed problems in efficiency and were operating below manufacturers’ specifications; 70% were improperly charged; 60% had inadequate airflow; and more than 80% were operating in adverse conditions, resulting in excessive energy consumption and early mechanical failures.- Advanced Energy (Division of Duke Energy Progress)
90% of all central heating and cooling systems are operating with a 20% loss in efficiency. $0.20 of every $1.00 that is spent on power is wasted.- Lakeland Electric and Water
and the Florida Solar Energy Centers research team found that by repairing leaking duct systems, cooling energy was reduced by an average of 18%.- Texas A&M University
Test results showed the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio of a unit decreases from 9.6 to 8 with a 10% refrigerant undercharge.- Texas Power and Light Company
A cooling system undercharges of 32% could go unnoticed by a homeowner and result in a 52% loss in efficiency.- Honeywell Corporation
Engineers found that 50% of the available efficiency from a heat pump is lost after 20 years of use due to deterioration of the heat transfer surfaces. If the system had an efficiency of 5 SEER when new, it could have an efficiency of less than 3 SEER if not properly maintained even if a high-efficiency filter was used.