How is SEER Determined?

SEER is much like fuel efficiency in your vehicle. The further your car or truck can go on a gallon of gas, the more fuel-efficient it is.  For a condensing unit, the more air conditioning or heating it can produce for the same amount of electricity, the more efficient it is.  The reason it is called the “Seasonal” EER is that it is measured over an entire heating or air conditioning season.  Technically speaking, SEER measures the heating or air conditioning output of a condensing unit in British thermal units, or Btu, during an entire heating or cooling season.  It divides the output by the total input of electricity, measured in watt-hours during that period.  The higher the unit’s SEER rating the more energy efficient it is.