Energy Calculator
Electricity today is costly, and we often aren’t watching how much of it we use. The average electricity bill per month in South Carolina costs about $147, which ranks 3rd in the United States for the most electricity consumed. The average South Carolina home also consumes about 1,119 kWh per month. National averages of electricity consumption are about 903 kWh/month.
With all the South Carolina heat, it is essential to make sure that your cooling system is running accordingly and kept up to date. Getting the most out of your cooling system will keep you cool in the warm months and comfortable in the off-season – not to mention, save you some hard-earned money.
Using an energy calculator can be helpful if you are trying to save money or energy. Using an energy calculator, you can find out how much you are paying to operate the heating and cooling in your home.
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Is a New HVAC System Worth it?
Using an energy calculator, homeowners can get a more accurate estimate of how much they can save on their energy bills by purchasing a brand-new HVAC.
Keep in mind, the cost of repairs and maintenance are not included in this estimate.
When considering replacing your HVAC system, you’ll want to think about how long you will live at that property. Most systems have a lifespan of about 10-12 years.
Understanding SEER ratings on your system can save you money in the long run. The SEER number on your HVAC system stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This number is a metric used to measure how much cooling a system puts out for each unit it consumes. If your HVAC is older, it may have a SEER rating that is less than 10. Today, the minimum is 13 but can range up to 20.
Units with a higher SEER number can decrease your utility bills thanks to the system’s effectiveness in conserving energy. The higher the SEER number, the more energy, and money you can save in the long run.
The energy calculator is one way individuals can calculate their saving using the SEER number. Users are invited to input their SEER rating into the energy calculator so they can get an idea of how the SEER rating on their system affects their savings on energy bills.
One of the most important questions homeowners ask when shopping for a new system is what SEER rating is appropriate for their home. The energy calculator is an excellent way to get a better idea of how much they can expect to save by choosing systems with a higher rating.
System’s with a higher SEER rating will save you money on energy bills. However, the high cost of high-efficiency systems might not work for everyone’s budget. Using an energy calculator like the one in the link below will allow you to compare the amount of energy saved from lower SEER system and a higher one. Then, you can compare the costs of the two systems to determine if the higher rated system is worth the price.
For example, according to the calculator, a SEER 16 system will save you an estimated $1,305 over ten years compared to a SEER 14. 10 years is the average life of an HVAC system.
Depending on the difference in cost between the two units, choosing the SEER 14 might end up saving you more money over the equipment’s service life.
Comparing SEER Ratings
Comparing SEER Ratings
If your energy bills are higher than you’d like them to be, there are other ways to save energy. Even the littlest things like air drying your dishes instead of using the dishwasher drying cycle can save you money on your next energy bill. Lowering the thermostat temperature on your water heater to 120 degrees can also save you an expected $12-30. Another tip to save energy is to make sure you are using Energy Star qualified CFL and LED light bulbs. These light bulbs use 20-25% of the power that traditional incandescent bulbs.
Saving energy doesn’t have to be hard. With the right tools to make informed purchase decisions and a little bit of legwork, you can reduce your energy bill every month.
Check out this HVAC Energy Calculator.
