Current Regional Efficiency Standards

Starting on January 1st, 2023 new efficiency standards will be required.. The testing requirements have changed for the units and new ratings of SEER2 and HSPF2 will be the new standard. Similar to the standard efficiency increases experienced in 2015, this regulation will apply to all equipment, whether it is being installed in an existing structure as a system replacement or in a new structure.

Here is a summary of what you need to know about the new regulations:

Northern States – All system types must meet a minimum of 13.4 SEER2 air conditioning and heat pumps 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Units manufactured before January 1st, 2023 can still be installed.

Southern (Southeastern) States – Split systems must meet a minimum efficiency goes to 14.3 SEER2 for both air conditioning and heat pumps and 7.5 HSPF2 for heat pumps. The 7.5 HSPF2/14.3 SEER2 heat pump rating will become a national standard. Packaged units must meet 13.4 SEER2 and 6.7 HSPF2.All installed units after January 1st, 2023 must meet these new standards.

Southwestern States – Split systems must meet a minimum efficiency also goes to 14.3 SEER2 for air conditioning, but there is a new standard for EER2 that will call for 11.7 EER2 for systems less than 45,000 BTUH and 11.2 EER2 for systems over 45,000 BTUH. Heat pumps require national standard of 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2. Packaged units must meet 13.4 SEER2, 10.6 EER2, and 6.7 HSPF2.All installed units after January 1st, 2023 must meet these new standards.

Current Regional Efficiency Standards

Here is a summary of what you need to know about the new regulations:

The Northern region is compromised of the following states:

Colorado - Connecticut - Idaho - Illinois - Indiana - Iowa - Kansas - Maine - Massachusetts - Michigan - Minnesota - Missouri - Montana - Nebraska - New Hampshire - New Jersey - New York - North Dakota - Ohio - Oregon - Pennsylvania - Rhode Island - South Dakota - Utah - Vermont - Washington - West Virginia - Wisconsin - Wyoming

The Southeast region is compromised of the following states:

Alabama - Arkansas - Delaware - Florida - Georgia - Hawaii - Kentucky - Louisiana - Maryland - Mississippi - North Carolina - Oklahoma - South Carolina - Tennessee - Texas - Virginia - Washington DC

The Southwest region is made up of the following states:

Arizona - California - Nevada - New Mexico

Previous Regional Efficiency Standards

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 provided the latest round of government regulated standard efficiencies allowed for air conditioners sold in the Unites States. These new standards went into effect on January 1, 2015. What is unique about these new efficiency standards is that they have allowed for different standards for various parts of the country rather than having just one national standard. Similar to the standard efficiency increases experienced in 2006 when the minimum went from 10 SEER to 13 SEER, this regulation will apply to all equipment, whether it is being installed in an existing structure as a system replacement or in a new structure.

Here is a summary of what you need to know about the new regulations (also, see the map and table below):

Northern States – Minimum 13 SEER air conditioning remains the standard, but heat pumps go to 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF.

Southern (Southeastern) States – Minimum efficiency goes to 14 SEER for both air conditioning and heat pumps and 8.2 HSPF for heat pumps. The 8.2 HSPF/14 SEER heat pump rating will become a national standard.

Southwestern States – Minimum efficiency also goes to 14 SEER for air conditioning, but there is a new standard for EER that will call for 12.2 EER for systems less than 45,000 BTUH and 11.7 EER for systems over 45,000 BTUH. Heat pumps require national standard of 14 SEER and 8.2 HSPF

Looking for even more info on SEER ratings? Check out this helpful article: SEER ratings explained