Sticker shock might greet Tucsonans who want a replacement for an old air conditioner in 2006, thanks to a federal rule that takes effect next month.
Beginning Jan. 23, the U.S. Department of Energy is raising the minimum energy efficiency rating for air conditioners, a move aimed at helping consumers reduce their utility bills.
The new rule won't affect the price of high-efficiency air conditioners favored by many Tucsonans who want to lower their summer cooling bills. But buying the least expensive air conditioner on the market would eventually cost hundreds of dollars more in operating costs, according to the presidents of two local companies that sell and install air conditioners.
The Energy Department will require that new air conditioners manufactured as of Jan. 23, 2006, be more energy-efficient. The result will be a 30 percent improvement in minimum energy efficiency.
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The new minimum standard will be a seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, of 13. The current minimum is 10 SEER.
SEER is to air conditioners what miles per gallon is to automobiles — the higher the number, the better the energy efficiency.
The price difference between buying a 10 SEER air conditioner and a 13 SEER system is likely to be hundreds of dollars, said Brett Wright, president of D&H Air Conditioning & Heating Company in Tucson.
A full 10-SEER system, including furnace, coil, air conditioner and installation, can cost roughly $4,500, with prices varying by manufacturer, Wright said.
By comparison, a 13-SEER system can cost closer to $5,200, Wright said.
Wright said the change may make it more expensive for people to buy a replacement for an old or broken air conditioner. However, he added, many efficiency-conscious customers in Tucson already opt for a 13-SEER system or better, figuring they will reap big savings on their utility bills.
"Tucson is particularly well-suited for the change," Wright said. "We have been promoting energy efficiency for more than a decade, and we have long gone past the minimum."
While manufacturers must stop making 10- or 12-SEER air conditioners next month, consumers still can buy them as long as they remain in stock.
Frank W. Naughton, president of Naughton's in Tucson, said he expects his company's current supply of less expensive, less efficient air conditioners to last until early March.
Once they're gone, he said, the price tags for new 13-SEER air conditioners will probably be 25 percent to 30 percent higher than the cheapest units currently on the market.
With energy prices on the rise, Naughton said, improved efficiency already has become the name of the game for customers in Tucson. "They're asking for higher efficiencies on their air conditioning. That's the trend," he said.
The Energy Department estimates that through 2030, the change in the law will save enough energy to power 26 million homes for one year.
They're asking for higher efficiencies on their air conditioning. That's the trend.
Frank W. Naughton
President, Naughton's