Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the debate over U.S. air conditioner efficiency standards, specifically comparing the SEER 13 standard established by the Clinton Administration with a proposed rollback to SEER 12 by the Bush Administration. It details the projected energy savings, emission reductions, and economic impacts associated with both standards.

• Between 1990 and 2000, appliance efficiency standards reduced consumer energy bills by approximately 50 billion dollars and lowered U.S. carbon emissions from fossil fuel consumption by nearly two percent. In 2000, these standards reduced peak generating needs by about 21,000 megawatts (MW), equivalent to seventy 300 MW power plants.
• The SEER 13 standard represents a 30 percent increase in minimum energy efficiency requirements, compared to a 20 percent increase for SEER 12. Between 2006 and 2030, a SEER 13 standard is projected to save 4.2 quadrillion Btu (quads) of energy—equivalent to the annual energy use of 26 million U.S. households—resulting in net consumer savings of approximately $1 billion by 2020. A SEER 12 standard would save only three quads of energy in the same period.
• Adopting the SEER 13 standard would avoid the construction of 39 400-megawatt power plants, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 33 million metric tons (Mt) of carbon and smog-forming nitrous oxides (NOx) by up to 85,000 metric tons. In comparison, a SEER 12 standard would avoid only 27 400-megawatt power plants, reducing carbon by 24 Mt and NOx by 73,000 metric tons.
• The cost of a SEER 13 unit is three to eight percent higher than a SEER 10 unit, and only about 2 to 4 percent higher than a SEER 12 unit. Regarding physical size, while some SEER 13 units are larger, others, such as those from Goodman Manufacturing, are only about three inches larger than basic units.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2002). Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-air-conditioner-efficiency-standards-seer-13-vs.-seer-12

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12. 2002. https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-air-conditioner-efficiency-standards-seer-13-vs.-seer-12.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12 |date=6 March 2002 |url=https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-air-conditioner-efficiency-standards-seer-13-vs.-seer-12 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2002air, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards: SEER 13 vs. SEER 12}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2002}, month = mar, url = {https://www.eesi.org/papers/view/fact-sheet-air-conditioner-efficiency-standards-seer-13-vs.-seer-12}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }