Guides / Decision guide
Efficiency ratings on a heat pump quote: SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2
What the rating names are, what federal and ENERGY STAR levels say for split-system heat pumps, why Florida's regional rule is about air conditioners, and why manufacturer figures are maximums.
What is not established
- No rating on any page establishes how a system will perform in a particular house, or its cost to run.
- The ENERGY STAR page shows no version or effective date.
- A SEER2-to-SEER conversion is not stated by any source read, so none is given.
The rating names
Product pages and permit forms use SEER2, EER2 and HSPF2. SEER2 and EER2 are cooling ratings and HSPF2 is a heating rating for heat pumps. The Sarasota change out application asks for the SEER of the equipment, so the rating belongs in the permit record as well as the quote.
Federal and ENERGY STAR levels
- The federal minimum for split-system heat pumps manufactured on or after January 1, 2023 is 14.3 SEER2 and 7.5 HSPF2 (10 CFR 430.32(c)(5)).
- ENERGY STAR lists, for split-system air-source heat pumps, HSPF2 of at least 7.8, SEER2 of at least 15.2 and EER2 of at least 11.0. The page read does not show a version or effective date, so confirm it before relying on the figures.
- Qualification is a property of the specific model and size. One manufacturer page in this collection says certification applies to select sizes only.
Why Florida is called out for air conditioners
The Department of Energy lists Florida in its Southeast region, and the regional standards apply to split-system air conditioners, by date of installation. Under 10 CFR 430.32(c)(6)(i) the Southeast minimum for a split-system air conditioner is 14.3 SEER2 below 45,000 Btu per hour and 13.8 SEER2 at 45,000 Btu per hour or more. That regional rule is about air conditioners; the heat pump figure above is the national minimum.
How to read a manufacturer page
The pages cited in this collection state ratings as "up to" values, or list several models at different values. A figure like "up to 17 SEER2" describes the top of a family. Ask for the model numbers of the outdoor unit and the matching indoor coil or air handler, and the rated figures for that combination, written on the quote.
Original paraphrase of an eCFR rule text, a DOE enforcement page, the ENERGY STAR criteria page and the manufacturer pages cited in the family references.
Sources: 10 CFR 430.32 (eCFR); DOE Regional Standards Enforcement; ENERGY STAR air-source heat pump criteria; City of Sarasota AC change out permit application
Sources
External references are provided for research context. A source link does not indicate enrollment, endorsement, or availability in your area.
- 10 CFR 430.32 (eCFR), accessed
- DOE Regional Standards Enforcement, accessed
- ENERGY STAR air-source heat pump criteria, accessed
- City of Sarasota AC change out permit application, accessed
- Carrier Comfort 16 heat pump page, accessed