Energy Efficiency
Seasonal Efficiency
Seasonal efficiency is a new way of measuring the true energy efficiency of heating and cooling technology, over an entire year. This new measure gives a more realistic indication of the energy efficiency and environmental impact of a system.
The new method of rating energy efficiency is driven by the EU’s Energy Related Products (ErP) Directive (the Eco-design Directive) which specifies the minimum Eco-design requirements that manufacturers must integrate into their energy-using products by 2013.
Seasonal efficiency demands a new rating system for heating and cooling products, which must be used by all manufacturers. These are:
- The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) value in cooling
- The Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) value in heating
New Seasonal Ratings
The new seasonal ratings reflect a heat pump’s true energy consumption, based on its energy efficiency over an entire year. SEER and SCOP measure annual energy consumption and efficiency in typical day-to-day use. In the longer term, they take into account temperature fluctuations and standby periods to give a clear and reliable indication of the typical energy efficiency over an entire heating or cooling season.
New heat pump products comply with the ErP because they are designed for seasonal efficiency. As a result, they are more energy efficient and therefore emit fewer CO2 emissions. Cold Heat has a full range of air conditioning products optimised for the new seasonal efficiency ratings.
Nominal Versus Seasonal Efficiency
Until 2013, the air conditioning industry used a ‘nominal’ ratio for cooling (SEER) and heating (SCOP) but this resulted in a significant gap between predicted performance and what is actually achieved.
Nominal efficiency gives an indication of how efficient an air conditioner is when operating at full load in nominal conditions (not often achieved).
To rectify this, a more accurate method – the ‘seasonal efficiency’ ratio (SEER) – has been developed, which gives a better measure of the real-life energy efficiency of systems.
Seasonal efficiency gives an indication of how efficient an air conditioner is when operating over an entire cooling or heating season (giving a more realistic efficiency measure).
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio
The new seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) takes into account a number of factors, which together provide a much more realistic view of energy efficiency in real life conditions, including:
- Energy performance in different climate zones
- Efficiency at partial load capacity as well as full load
- Energy consumption in auxiliary and stand by modes
Different load requirements through the seasons
Seasonally efficient products
Seasonal efficiency calculations give consumers a reliable performance rating they can easily understand when buying a heating or cooling device. The new energy label includes multiple classifications from A+++ to D reflected in colour shadings ranging from dark green (most energy efficient) to red (least efficient). Information on the new label includes not only the new seasonal efficiency ratings for heating (SCOP) and cooling (SEER), but also annual energy consumption and sound levels.
Label Requirements
The energy label can be found in the box of the outdoor unit. The SEER / SCOP rating and the energy label must be displayed on product literature, data sheets and websites. Any dealer or wholesaler displaying the outdoor unit must also display the label.
