HVAC Efficiency Upgrade Analyzer

Step 1: Current vs Upgrade

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Step 2: Upgrade Analysis

Step 3: History & Comparison

How It Works

This analyzer compares your current HVAC efficiency against a potential upgrade using engineering formulas accepted by the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI). Here is the methodology:

1. System sizing: We estimate tonnage from your square footage using the rule of thumb 1 ton per 500 sq ft (adjusted for climate).
2. Cooling load hours: Each DOE climate zone has an approximate annual full-load equivalent hour count, ranging from 300 (Zone 7) to 2,800 (Zone 1).
3. Annual kWh: (Tons × 12,000 BTU/hr × load hours) ÷ (SEER × 1,000). This is the standard SEER-to-kWh conversion.
4. Heat pump bonus: If you select heat pump, we estimate HSPF as 0.7 × SEER and add heating-season kWh using the same formula with heating load hours.
5. Payback: Upgrade cost ÷ annual dollar savings. We do not model utility inflation here, so the payback is conservative.

Tip: Seal air leaks and add insulation before upgrading equipment. A smaller, more efficient system will often outperform an oversized high-SEER unit in a leaky house.