Minimum Efficiency Standards
FEDERAL REGULATIONS
Federal regulations in the heating and cooling industry are always changing. In 2023, the Department of Energy increased the mandated minimum efficiency for air conditioners and heat pumps. As a trusted leader in home comfort, Bryant has always thrived by advancing comfort technology. That’s why today we offer a full family of products designed to meet or exceed these efficiency standards.
WHY THE CHANGE?
Every six years, the Department of Energy (DOE) reviews energy use, updates minimum efficiency requirements, and manages the testing standards used to measure them.1 As a result of its most recent analysis, the DOE raised the minimum efficiencies for central air conditioners and heat pumps, along with updating the testing procedures used to measure performance. These standards took effect on January 1, 2023.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU
All Bryant products represent years of design, development and testing with your family’s home comfort in mind. Along the way, we’ve created technologies that deliver outstanding quality and efficiency—often well ahead of industry trends and global initiatives. This forward-looking approach is why our systems already meet or exceed today’s federal efficiency standards.
Homeowners choosing Bryant systems will benefit from:
- A higher efficiency system leading to potentially reduced monthly utility bills.
- Enhanced comfort benefits such as more consistent indoor temperatures and improved humidity control.
- High-quality products that have been in our development pipeline well in advance of the new requirements.
Current Minimum Efficiency Standards
These new government regulations apply to all manufacturers in the HVAC industry. For air conditioners, the Department of Energy’s new minimum efficiency standards varies by region, so your choice of AC units depends on where you live. For heat pumps, the new standard is uniform across the nation. The DOE’s regional breakdown by state is as follows:
- Southwest: Arizona, California, Nevada, and New Mexico
- South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories
- North: The remainder of the United States
SEER2 – The Current Standard for Efficiency
Efficiency ratings in heating and cooling continue to evolve, but SEER2 is now the federally mandated benchmark. Since January 1, 2023, all new air conditioners and heat pumps sold and installed in the U.S. have been labeled with a SEER2 cooling efficiency rating, showing that they comply with the Department of Energy’s updated testing procedures.
SEER2 is the latest version of the industry standard SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Much like miles-per-gallon for a car, SEER and SEER2 provide an easy way to compare product efficiencies: the higher the rating, the more efficient the unit. Just be sure to compare SEER vs SEER or SEER2 vs SEER2. Once installed, a unit’s SEER2 rating can be found on its bright yellow EnergyGuide label.
