SEER Savings Calculator

How does this calculator work?

The estimate is built from your air conditioner's actual cooling capacity, not a guessed dollar figure. First, it calculates your home's annual cooling cost from four factors:

• The SEER rating of your current air conditioner
• Your air conditioner's size, in tons
• The cost of electricity per kilowatt-hour where you live
• Your area's estimated annual cooling hours

Annual cost = (Tonnage × 12,000 BTU/hr × Annual cooling hours ÷ SEER) × Electricity rate

We run that formula twice — once for your current system's SEER rating, once for the new one — and the difference is your estimated savings, shown both per year and as a running total over 1, 5, 10, and 15 years. New systems rated in SEER2 are converted to an SEER-equivalent basis first, so the comparison stays apples-to-apples.

What is SEER and SEER2?

SEER — Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio — is the rating system for air conditioner and heat pump energy efficiency. The higher the number, the less electricity the system consumes to deliver the same amount of cooling.

SEER2 is the current version. It replaced SEER as the standard for all air conditioners and heat pumps manufactured from January 1, 2023 onward.

How are SEER and SEER2 calculated?

Both use the same basic formula: the total heat removed from a home during a typical cooling season (in BTU), divided by the total electrical energy the system used over that same season (in watt-hours). The difference between SEER and SEER2 is in the testing procedure, not the formula. Starting in 2023, manufacturers had to test units under higher external static pressure — conditions that more closely match how a system actually performs once it's installed with real ductwork attached, rather than in an idealized lab setup.

That more realistic test procedure produces a rating that runs about 4.5% lower than the same physical unit would have scored under the old SEER test — which is why a SEER2-rated system is roughly 4.71% more efficient than a SEER-rated system carrying the identical number. It's not quite an apples-to-apples comparison, which is exactly why this calculator converts SEER2 to an SEER-equivalent value before comparing it against your current system.

A note about HSPF and EER

Two other efficiency ratings you may run into: HSPF (Heating Seasonal Performance Factor), which rates a heat pump's heating-side efficiency the way SEER rates its cooling side, and EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio), which measures efficiency at one fixed outdoor temperature (95°F) rather than across a full season. Both were updated to HSPF2 and EER2 alongside the SEER2 transition. Neither factors into this calculator, but you'll see them listed on an efficiency label or spec sheet, especially for heat pumps.

What are the current AC efficiency standards?

Minimum efficiency standards took effect January 1, 2023, and they vary by region — California falls in the Southwest zone (along with Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico), which carries a slightly higher minimum than the rest of the country.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy minimum efficiency standards, effective January 1, 2023. Heat pumps and single-packaged systems in the Southeast/Southwest are instead governed by regional EER2 minimums, not shown here.

If your current system predates these standards and doesn't meet them, that's fine — you don't have to replace a working system. The rule only kicks in when a contractor installs new equipment. Drag the sliders above to see what upgrading from where you are now would actually be worth.

How do I find my AC's SEER or SEER2 rating?

• Check your outdoor condenser unit first — most have a yellow Energy Guide sticker on the side listing the SEER rating and other specs.
• If that sticker is faded or missing, check the air handler — usually in a closet, attic, or garage — which often carries the same information.
• No luck either place? Find the manufacturer name, model number, and serial number stamped on the unit and look them up on the manufacturer's website, or call their customer service line.

Mismatched systems

A condenser and air handler have to be a matched, manufacturer-approved pair to actually hit the SEER rating printed on the label. Contractors are supposed to install matched sets, but it doesn't always happen — if yours is mismatched, real-world efficiency will run below what the label promises, which is one more reason the sliders above are an estimate, not a guarantee.

What is AC tonnage?

Tonnage isn't the unit's weight — it's cooling capacity. One ton of air conditioning removes 12,000 BTU of heat from your home per hour, so a 3-ton system moves 36,000 BTU/hr. The right tonnage for your home depends on square footage, ceiling height, insulation, window area, and how many people live there — a proper load calculation beats a rule of thumb every time, but here's the general range:

Homes larger than that typically need more than one system working together. Anything over 5 tons is considered commercial-scale and isn't used residentially.

Why this matters more in Los Angeles

LA's cooling season stretches from roughly May through October, and inland San Fernando Valley neighborhoods regularly see 90°F+ afternoons for weeks at a stretch. More run hours means the SEER gap between your old and new system compounds over more of the year — the same efficiency upgrade saves noticeably more here than it would in a milder coastal climate.

It also matters for rebates: LADWP and SCE both set minimum SEER2 thresholds for AC rebates, and the Federal 25C tax credit requires 16 SEER2 to qualify for its 30% credit. A system that clears that bar often pays for a meaningful chunk of its own price premium in incentives alone — see our current rebates for exact amounts, or read the full 14 SEER vs 16 SEER breakdown for the complete picture.

What this estimate doesn't account for

• Whether your current system is actually correctly sized for your home in the first place
• Duct leakage or airflow restrictions, which can quietly cost more than a SEER upgrade saves
• Time-of-use electricity pricing, where afternoon and evening rates run higher than the flat average used here
• Insulation, window efficiency, and shading, which all affect how hard the system has to work

Those factors can move the real number up or down meaningfully. A free in-home assessment gets you an exact figure — call us and we'll run it against your actual system and utility bill.